Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants Pondweed or ?

Russ - First some backgound:
In all my books I can find 3, maybe 4 species of water plantain - genus Alisma (A.): 1 Northern water plantain, Alisma triviale; 2 southern water plantain A. subcordatum; and 3. grass leaved or narrow leaved water plantain, A. gramineum; and 4. one just called water plantain A. plantago-aquatica; which may be a synonym of one of those above. I find no mention of American water-plantain in my technical books. Although in one of my books it says that all North American plants belong to the taxonomic variety americanum. I assume Am. water plantain is the most common form of one of the above four species.

Water plantain is a perennial plant with a thick tuberous rhizome and it regrows each year from root stock. Also it reproduces from seed when conditons are favorable. It can be divided by spliting the clump of roots. Seeds will sprout but will sprout quicker if the seed coat is broken to shorten germination time.

I am somewhat puzzled by Fozzyb's' statement that his plantws are growing in up to 3 ft of water. I have never seen it grow this deep and my books indicate that if it is growing deeper the leaves will be long and ribbon-like, similar to eel grass. "Water Plants for MO Ponds" says it does not spread to the point of crowding out other plants and remains close to shore in shallow water or ankle deep water. Again, in deeper water it's supposed to form narrow leaves like long ribbons. I still wonder if Fozzyb. has his plant identifed correctly. A close up pictue of the flowering part would sure help me with a more positive ID.