# data[].attributes.body
Calico crayfish

# data[].attributes.body
Faxonius immunis

# data[].attributes.body
Aquatic habitats, slow flowing or average streams with gravel substrate, rivers with mud substrate, flooded ditches with a lot of plant life or lakes or ponds. They do not enjoy areas with high turbidity or low dissolved oxygen. At times were there habitats may dry up they will dig holes to burrow themselves.

# data[].attributes.body
Crayfish are omnivores, they mainly eat algae from aquatic plants or dead animal remains. They are helpful for breaking down plants that are resistant to decomposition. Other animals eat them such as large fish.

# data[].attributes.body
It is native to the prairie region, which is the Missouri and Mississippi lakes.

# data[].attributes.body
https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/description/11530/Faxonius-immunis
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/calico-crayfish-papershell-crayfish

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Peter Badra

Peter Badra

Key Characteristics

The calico crayfish is a small- to medium-sized crayfish with a maximum carapace length of 4.0 cm. This crayfish's color is gray to light green, with a gray or cream colored stripe of variable width running down the midline of the carapace and abdomen. Tips of the fingers are red or orange. The rostrum is moderately excavated with margins that are slightly convex and terminate in small spines, which can be small enough in larger individuals that they appear absent to the naked eye. The areola is narrowly open. Calico crayfish differs from viril crayfish ( Faxonius virilus), a very similar species of the same genus, by having much shorter form I gonopod elements that curve close to 90 degrees to the main shaft of the gonopod. Another key character of the Calico crayfish is a deep incision at the base of the movable finger of the chela (claw).

Status and Rank

US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
Global Rank: G5 - Secure
State Rank: S4 - Apparently secure

Occurrences

County

Number of Occurrences

Year Last Observed

Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Habitat

Calico crayfish are found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats including small streams with gravel substrate, slow flowing streams and rivers with mud substrate, lakes, ponds, and well-vegetated flooded ditches. They often inhabit slow moving or stagnant waters and are resistant to conditions with low dissolved oxygen and high turbidity. They can use simple burrows to avoid desiccation in shallow ponds or ditches that may be dry for short periods during the year.

Natural Community Types

Headwater stream (1st-2nd order), pool

Inland lake, littoral, benthic

Mainstem stream (3rd-4th order), pool

River (5th-6th order), pool

Methodology

For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.

Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.

Management Recommendations

The invasive red swamp crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii) and rusty crayfish ( Faxonius rusticus) can displace native crayfish species. Minimizing the spread of these harmful species can increase the viability of calico crayfish populations as well as benefit other components of the riparian ecosystems. Vectors for introduction of red swamp crayfish and rusty crayfish include live food markets, bait shops, and improper handling after classroom use. Anthropogenic changes to river and lake ecosystems such as shoreline hardening, dredging, and point source discharges should be avoided. Contamination from heavy metals and the introduction of non-native predatory fish can also negatively impact calico crayfish populations. Calcium is utilized by crayfish to grow and maintain their exoskeletons. Pollution that reduces calcium concentration in the water where crayfish live can have an especially negative impact.

Active Period

Active from first week of March to fourth week of October

Survey Methods

Calico crayfish can be collected with seine nets, dip nets, minnow traps, and by hand. Baited minnow traps set overnight can be very effective in collecting large numbers of crayfish. Calico crayfish can be captured by excavating their burrows, but this method causes a relatively high disturbance and should be avoided if possible.

References

Survey References

Creaser, E.P. 1930. The Michigan decapod crustaceans. Michigan Academy of Science Arts and Letters 13: 257-276.

Lippson, R.L. 1975. "The Distribution of the Crayfish of Michigan with Aspects of Their Life Cycle and Physiology." PhD dissertation, Michigan State University.

Taylor, C.A., G.A. Schuster, and D.B. Wylie. 2015. Field Guide to Crayfishes of the Midwest. Manual 15. Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign. x+145pp.

Technical References

Crandall, K.A., and S. De Grave. 2017. An updated classification of the freshwater crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidea) of the world, with a complete species list. Journal of Crustacean Biology 37: 615-653.

Smith, K., B. Roth, M. Jones, D. Hayes, S. Herbst, and N. Popoff. 2019. Changes in the distribution of Michigan crayfishes and the influence of invasive rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) on native crayfish substrate associations. Biological Invasions 21: 637-656.

Smith, K., B. Roth, S. Herbst, R. Thoma, N. Popoff, D. Hayes, and M. Jones. 2018. Assessment of invasion risks for red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in Michigan, USA. Management of Biological Invasions 9: 405-415.

Tack, P.I. 1941. The life history and ecology of the crayfish Cambarus immunis Hagen. American Midland Naturalist 25:420-446.

Taylor, C.A., G.A. Schuster, J.E. Cooper, R.J. DiStefano, A.G. Eversole, P. Hamr, H.H. Hobbs III, H.W. Robison, C.E. Skelton, and R.F. Thoma. 2007. A Reassessment of the Conservation Status of Crayfishes of the United States and Canada after 10+ Years of Increased Awareness, Fisheries 32: 372-389.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The calico crayfish is a small- to medium-sized crayfish with a maximum carapace length of 4.0 cm. This crayfish's color is gray to light green, with a gray or cream colored stripe of variable width running down the midline of the carapace and abdomen. Tips of the fingers are red or orange.

# data[].attributes.body
Mink frog

# data[].attributes.body
Rana septentrionalis

# data[].attributes.body
They prefer the edges of ponds, bogs, and lakes with cool water, vegetation, or peaty bottoms. They like spending most of their time in the water or on lily pads.

# data[].attributes.body
Tadpoles eat algae, while full grown mink frogs eat aquatic insects, snails, or spiders.

# data[].attributes.body
They can be found in Northern New England, New York, Northern Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

# data[].attributes.body
https://nhpbs.org/wild/minkfrog.asp

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Habitat

The mink frog is found at the edges of ponds, bogs, and lakes with cool water and emergent vegetation or peaty bottoms. It spends most of its time in the water and is especially fond of lily pads.

Diet

The mink frog eats aquatic insects, snails, spiders, and other invertebrates. The mink frog tadpole eats algae and plant matter.

Life Cycle

Breeding season runs from May through August. Males float in the water and call to the females. The female lays a mass of 500-4,000 eggs in deep water. The male fertilizes the eggs after the female lays them. The tadpoles become frogs in about a year.

Behavior

The mink frog gets its name from the musky mink-like odor it produces when it is picked up or disturbed by a predator. Some people compare the smell to rotting onions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
mink frog - rana septentrionalis | wildlife journal junior

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mink Frog - Rana septentrionalis | Wildlife Journal Junior - Wildlife Journal Junior

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The mink frog is 2-3 inches in length. It is olive green to brown and has dark blotches and spots on its body. It has creamy white to yellow undersides and and its lips are usually bright green. It has large tympanum on the side of its head.

# data[].attributes.body
White Heath Aster

# data[].attributes.body
Symphyotrichum ericoides

# data[].attributes.body
They prefer full sun to half sun, and moist soil. They are rarely bothered by insects, and they prefer sheltered areas.

# data[].attributes.body
Mammalian herbivores eat white aster including, white tail deer, and cottontail rabbits. Normally younger plants are eaten and more mature ones are left alone.

# data[].attributes.body
It is native to most of central and eastern North America. It can be evasive if not properly controlled.

# data[].attributes.body
https://commonsensehome.com/heath-aster/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/asters/growing-heath-asters.htm#:~:text=Plant%20heath%20aster%20in%20full,bothered%20by%20pests%20or%20disease.
https://www.sarahraven.com/articles/how-to-plant-and-grow-asters

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Today's featured plant is Heath Aster, Aster ericoides.

Heath aster is also known as White Aster, Awl-aster, Subulate-bracted Aster, Hairy Aster, Soft Aster, Squarrose White Aster, White Prairie Aster, Heath White Aster, Many-flowered Aster, and Tufted White Prairie Aster.

DePauw.edu shares, "Heath aster is also known as farewell-to-summer and goodbye-meadow, first because it ushers in the fall and second because it tends to take over a field." Given how it has spread in our wild prairie area, I would believe this.

Range and Identification of Heath Aster

White heath aster is native to the United States. It occurs from Maine to southern Saskatchewan, south to Virginia, Texas, northern Mexico and southeast Arizona. ( see map). It's a prairie plan, preferring full sun and dry conditions. This year with the drought, ours has really taken off. It can be found in many of the usual "weed" areas - roadsides, meadows, along railroad tracks, in gravel pits and quarries. It copes will with both established prairies and disturbed areas. Here's a nice area in our yard where you can see health aster, New England aster , milkweed and goldenrod.

Heath aster plants grow from 1-3 feet tall. Leaves are attached in an alternating pattern up the stem, 3″ long and ¼" across toward the base of the plant, becoming less than 1″ long and 1/8″ across near the flowering stems. The plant is a perennial. (See Illinois Wildflowers) Lower leaves die off as the plant matures, and the stems turn from green to brown. The plant is just a little bit fuzzy, not outright hairy. If you click on any of the photos with leaves, you can see this a little better. The roots are rhizomes, so they tend to spread in clumps, but the seeds are also carried on the wind.

Heath aster blooms from August until hard frost, which is great because they provide nectar when many other plants have already finished blooming. Our meadows are humming. A single plant can produce over 100 flowers, which are clustered near the top of the plant. They have a compound flower, like the ox-eye daisy, made up of tiny florets, and measuring under 1/2 inch across (you can use my hand for a rough scale). There are 8-20 rays (petals) surrounding a center disk that turns from yellow to brown as the flower matures.

Once the flowers have faded, the seed heads get tufts of white hairs, which allow them to be spread on the wind (as mentioned above).

Heath Aster as Animal Habitat

The abundant flowers of health aster are attractive to many species of butterflies, bees and other pollinators, even though they don't have much of a scent. Illinois Wildflowers lists the faunal associations of heath aster:

A wide variety of insects are attracted to the flowers, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, moths, beetles, and plant bugs. Bee visitors include honeybees, bumblebees, cuckoo bees, little carpenter bees, leaf-cutting bees, Halictid bees, plasterer bees, and Andrenid bees. Wasp visitors include thread-waisted wasps, bee wolves, spider wasps, sand wasps, paper wasps, Ichneumonid wasps, and Braconid wasps.

Among the flies, are such visitors as bee flies, Syrphid flies, thick-headed flies, Tachinid flies, Muscid flies, and others. Various insects suck juices from the plant, including aphids, lace bugs, and plant bugs. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) feed on the foliage or flowers, as does the caterpillars of many moth species (see Moth Table). Wild Turkeys nibble on the seeds and foliage to a limited extent. Mammalian herbivores, including the White-Tailed Deer, Cottontail Rabbit, and various kinds of livestock, also feed on the tender growth of young plants occasionally, but are less likely to bother mature plants later in the year.

Medicinal Uses of Heath Aster

The University of Montana - Missoula states: "The Navajo used this aster to make teas and lotions used for curing snake bites. Other groups used these asters in steam lodges, laying branches on the hot rocks to create herbal steam."

GardenGuides.com states: "Native Americans used white heath aster in sweat baths. Flowering plants served as binding to the structure of the sweat lodge and were added to hot rocks to produce herbal steam. White heath aster was also used medicinally to revive unconscious patients."

No dosage recommendations were readily available.

As always, any medical information is for informational purposes only. Always exercise caution when using any wild plants and make sure you have positively identified the plant.

Please Like, Pin or otherwise share this post if you would like the Weekly Weeder series to continue.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Heath Aster - Weekly Weeder #36 - Useful for Wildlife and Medicine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Heath aster is also known as White Aster, Awl-aster, Subulate-bracted Aster, Hairy Aster, Soft Aster, Squarrose White Aster, White Prairie Aster, Heath White Aster, Many-flowered Aster, and Tufted White Prairie Aster. DePauw.edu shares, "Heath aster is also known as farewell-to-summer and goodbye-meadow, first because it ushers in the fall and second because it tends to take over a field."

# data[].attributes.body
Common Milkweed

# data[].attributes.body
Asclepias syriaca

# data[].attributes.body
It can be found in croplands, pastures, and fields. It needs full sun and moist soil.

# data[].attributes.body
It provides food and shelter for monarchs and bees.

# data[].attributes.body
Common milkweed is native to most of eastern US and Canada.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASSY

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Cressler, Alan

Asclepias syriaca

Asclepias syriaca L.

Common Milkweed

Synonym(s): Asclepias intermedia, Asclepias kansana, Asclepias syriaca var. kansana

USDA Symbol: ASSY

The Common Milkweed is the plant that most people associate with the word "milkweed". This is a tall and conspicuous species that sometimes forms large clones. The umbels bear large balls of pink to purplish flowers that have an attractive odor. This species is known to form hybrids with both A. exaltata (in the east) and A. speciosa (in the west). Follicles split open in the fall and early winter dispensing wind borne seeds. Among the milkweeds, this species is the best at colonizing in disturbed sites. Within its range it can be found in a broad array of habitats from croplands, to pastures, roadsides, ditches and old fields. It is surprisingly rare in prairies in the Midwest being found mostly in disturbed sites within these habitats. As an indigenous species of the southern Great Plains, it has all the attributes of what some ecologists call a "fugitive species". That is, one whose appearance and persistence is dependent on disturbance due to its inability to compete with other vegetation. In the northern parts of its range it seems to be a more permanent member of the floral communities.

The plant contains cardiac glycosides, allied to digitalins used in treating some heart disease. These glycosides, when absorbed by monarch butterfly larvae whose sole source of food is milkweed foliage, make the larvae and adult butterflies toxic to birds and other predators.

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Lanceolate , Oblong , Ovate
Inflorescence: Umbel
Fruit Type: Follicle
Size Notes: Typically 3-5 feet (90-150 cm) but can reach 8 feet (240 cm) in ditches and gardens.
Leaf: 4-7 ½ in (10-19 cm) long and 2-4 1/3 in (5-11 cm) wide. Shape is variable and is described as ovate, oblong, lanceolate or elliptic. The rich dark green of the top of the leaves contrasts with a lighter green on the underside. Leaf pairs often perpendicular to each other with short petioles.
Flower: Slightly pendulous spherical umbels with as many as 100 flowers per umbel, but usually 30+/- flowers. 3+/- umbels per stem. Pedicels are 1 1/2 in (4 cm) long. Petals up to 1/3 in (9mm) long. Hoods and horns are white or purple. Corolla reflexes backward to expose the hoods and horns. Horn protrudes through the hoods.
Fruit: Follicles approximately 3 ½ in (9 cm) long to 1 2/3 in (4 cm) at the widest point. Fruit color is grayish and is thick at the base and tapers down to a narrow tip. Follicles are covered with hair and soft spikes. Fruits split open between September-October.
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Medium to fine sandy, clayey, or rocky calcareous soils. Also found in well-drained loamy soils.
Conditions Comments: Not shade tolerant. Needs lots of sunlight.

Benefit

Use Food: According to the Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants or Edible Wild Plants, common milkweed is edible only under certain circumstances. Boiling can eliminate the bitter taste and toxicity of the sap, but this must be done very carefully to avoid the toxins. Eating milkweed is not recommended.
Use Other: Native Americans used this species as a source of fibers and during the Second World War children in the northern states were encouraged to collect the seed pods that were processed for the coma, or floss, which was used for flotation in life vests. Today the coma is harvested for use in pillows and comforters.
Warning: Poisonous parts include milky sap from leaves, stems. Toxic only in large quantities. Symptoms include vomiting, stupor, weakness, spasms by ingesting other species; need careful identification. Toxic Principle: Resinoid, cardiac glycoside in other species (Poisonous Plants of N.C. State).
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Monarch
Poisonous: yes

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Spreads via rhizomes and forms small to large clones. Rhizomes can be cut and transplanted early in the spring.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native plants of dune erosion control in Michigan
May 30, 2008
We care for Lake Michigan dune near our home in New Buffalo and would like to provide erosion control with native species that will also enhance the beauty of the dune with long lasting flowers. The ...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center focused on protecting and preserving North America's native plants through native plant lists and image galleries, conservation, education, natural landscapes, seed collection - Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) Project, preserving and restoring native communities, spreading awareness on invasive species and gardening to attract wildlife.

# data[].attributes.body
Bumble bee

# data[].attributes.body
Bombus

# data[].attributes.body
Bumble bee's live socially in hives usually underground, in abandoned holes made by other animals. Normally their hives consist of 50 to 500 other bees.

# data[].attributes.body
They pollinate flowers, and make honey. Birds, and carnivorous animals eat bees and invade their hives.

# data[].attributes.body
They are native to North America.

# data[].attributes.body
https://herofortheplanet.org/pollinators/explore/food-web/
https://blog.nwf.org/2021/05/5-facts-about-bumble-bees-and-how-to-help-them/#:~:text=Like%20honey%20bees%2C%20bumble%20bees%20live%20socially%20in%20hives%20which,between%2050%20and%20500%20individuals.
https://www.xerces.org/bumblebees/about#:~:text=Bumble%20bees%20are%20the%20only,spring%2C%20summer%2C%20and%20fall.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What role does your pollinator play in its food web?

All organisms (living things) need energy to grow and survive. But where does that energy come from? Most of us get our energy by eating food we buy at a store or grow in our gardens. In a natural ecosystem, the plants get their energy from the sun, and animals get theirs from eating plants or other animals. These who-eats-who relationships among plants, animals, and other organisms can be shown in a diagram called a food web. This spiderweb-like model helps us understand how energy flows though a group of organisms in the ecosystem.

The energy for all animals can be traced back to plants, or producers. Plants produce their own food through photosynthesis, a chemical process that changes the sun's energy into a form that can be stored in plants and eaten by other organisms. Consumers are organisms that get their energy by eating, or consuming, other organisms. Some consumers eat plants, and some eat other animals. Herbivores eat plants for energy, carnivores eat other animals for their energy, and omnivores eat both plants and animals. Finally, decomposers are organisms that eat any dead plant or animal. Yum! Their job of breaking down the dead bodies of these producers and consumers is an essential part of the cycle of energy in food webs. Without decomposers, dead plants and animals would never "disappear" back into the soil and decomposer bodies.

On this page we'll EXPLORE the food webs of each pollinator group. Understanding how your pollinator gets food energy and what other animals eat your pollinator for food energy can help you help your pollinator. Find your species' pollinator group, read about its unique food web, and respond to the Questions to Consider.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What role does your pollinator play in its food web? All organisms (living things) need energy to grow and survive. But where does that energy come from? Most of us get our energy by eating food we buy at a store or grow in our gardens.

# data[].attributes.body
Water Mint

# data[].attributes.body
Mentha aquatica

# data[].attributes.body
They prefer partial to full sun. They are fine in warm or cool climates. They do well on the waters edge.

# data[].attributes.body
Fish eat it along with rodents and deer. They also provide food for bees and other insects.

# data[].attributes.body
It is native to Africa and Asia but it has been introduced to North America.

# data[].attributes.body
https://pondinformer.com/water-mint-mentha-aquatica/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/mint/growing-watermint.htm

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Belonging to Lamiaceae, the mint family, water mint or aquatic mint is a perennial flowering semiaquatic herb. Water mint, as it's also called, is native to the majority of Europe as well as northern Africa and western Asia.

Over the last 200 years or so, it has become naturalized in North America (primarily in the Midwest, where it's considered invasive in some areas), South America, and Australia due to being introduced as a popular and tasty herb for use in teas. It is not typically found in the most northern portions of Europe (Scandinavia) due to frigid, harsh winters, but can occasionally be found along coastlines in Finland where temperatures are slightly more moderate.

Water mint reproduces both via underground rhizomes as well as pollination by insects and birds. Mentha aquatica is considered a generalist species, as a wide variety of insects visit their flowers. Studies have found that water mint is excellent at filtering out pollutants as well as heavy metals such as nickel. In fact, it is currently used by environmental professionals to aid in phytoremediation efforts of wetlands and other natural waterways, meaning that watermint could also aid in improving soil and water quality around and in your pond

How to Identify Wild Aquatic Mint (Water Mint)

Mints are among the easiest plants to identify in the wild, even for novice botanists and plant hobbyists. Rather a rarity in the natural world, watermint, as well as just about everything else in the Lamiaceae family (including catnip), has square stems! In addition, every species in the mint family has opposite leaves and a four lobed ovary, meaning that each plant contains four ovules, or eggs, in separate chambers within the ovary. This can be observed by cutting open the ovary, which is found within the fused sepals beneath the flowerheads.

While not all plants with square stems and opposite leaves are in the mint family, if there is also a four lobed ovary and a distinct, mint-like smell, you can be quite certain that what you've come across is indeed a mint of some sort. To narrow down exactly which species within Lamiaceae you might have found, you can use this handy, interactive dichotomous key if you don't have access to a physical identification book.

Facts, Benefits & Uses of Water Mint

Mints of all kinds have been utilized medicinally for many hundreds of years. Today, common uses include applying to the temples or ingesting to alleviate headaches, eating the leaves or steeping them in a hot tea for gastrointestinal discomfort, utilizing the oils contained within the leaves for aromatherapy treatment of stress or respiratory issues, and crushing the leaves into a balm with other herbs to apply to sore muscles and joints. In addition, the compounds contained within aquatic mint, and most other mints, help to repel mice and various insects (such as mosquitos, black flies, and midges) as they upset the respiratory system in rodents and the olfactory system in insects.
Check Pond Plant Prices
A fairly hardy plant, water mint grows well in either full sun or partial shade and can survive in acidic, basic, or neutral pH soils, but prefers those within the neutral range of 6 to 7. Water mint grows well in both cool and warm climates, but will die if frosted and will need more shade if kept in temperatures that average above 75° F (~24° C).

They are known to grow anywhere from a foot to around three feet in height with as much as a one foot spread, including leaves and flowers. Maximum size is typically reached within three months. Flowering is relatively short-lived for mints growing in climate zones C and D, usually occurring for about a month during the peak of summer, but can occur year-round in climate zone A. If frosted out over the winter, water mint should resprout the following spring as it is a perennial.

First and foremost, water mint spreads via rhizomes. This means that it can spread far and fast, potentially taking over your existing plants, or worse, spreading into natural ecosystems and becoming disruptive. To prevent this, plant aquatic mint in pots or containers that will restrict its root spread. It can be planted in two to four inches of soil, or in emergent portions of your pond (or on pond shelves) with its roots in the substrate and two to four inches of water covering the stem.

They do well in either shallow marginal waters or damp soil. If planted in your pond, either soil or a substrate like sand or gravel will work just fine. Mints should be planted about five feet apart from each other to allow for maximum growth. In the wild, watermint can be found along rivers, streams, lake banks, ponds, and in wetlands - particularly bogs - as well as moist grasslands and woods.

Water mint doesn't require much care. You can clip leaves to achieve a desired size and bushiness, although this isn't necessary. If not planted in pots, you'll need to regularly (about once per year) dig up the rhizomes and clip them to prevent further spread. This can be quite a hassle and damage or stress existing plants, so simply planting them in pots is best. Simply ensure that the soil they're in is kept moist, and your water mint will be happy! As always, clean any dropped foliage out of your pond as needed.

How to Winter Water Mint:

There's no need to bring them indoors for winter, as they'll pop right back up the following spring. If you would like your mint to begin flowering and seeding sooner in the spring/summer, you can bring it indoors prior to the first frost and place it in a pot or hanging basket in a bright window. This way, the plant won't have to completely resprout in the spring. Water it thoroughly every two or three days, and mist it gently daily between watering to keep the soil damp.

Water mint is invasive depending on where you live. For example, it's considered native throughout Europe, non-native but non-invasive in the southern United States, and invasive in portions of the Midwest and western region of the United States. In Michigan, there are no plans to control water mint as it doesn't seem to have overtaken or damaged ecosystems, but in Idaho it's fully illegal to have any mentha aquatica on your property. As a result, you'll need to do some research to figure out whether or not it's legal for you to have water mint!

Water mint is only toxic in large quantities to humans, dogs, cats, and horses. It's likely toxic to fish in large quantities, as well. Further research did not yield exact amounts, but if your fish or cat consume a couple of leaves they should be fine, as humans and some wildlife enjoy consuming small amounts of mint. The compound primarily responsible for this toxicity is pulegone, which damages the nervous system and liver. e.

Is Water Mint Edible? Will Fish Eat it?

Water mint is edible, but toxic in large quantities. However, your fish are unlikely to nibble on it due to its strong scent and taste - menthol tends to be unappealing to a variety of animals, including rodents and deer. However, to be on the safe side, only plant water mint on pond shelves that are too shallow for your fish to easily get to, and also plant them in pots both to deter herbivory and to prevent the rhizomes from spreading.

Where to Buy Water Mint Plants & Seeds? (UK & US)

Water mint can be found in most plant nurseries, pond retailers, and online. A quick Google search yields a host of options. Click below to check prices!
Check Pond Plant Prices

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Water Mint Plant Uses, Care & Seeds Guide (Mentha aquatica)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Belonging to Lamiaceae, the mint family, water mint or aquatic mint is a perennial flowering semiaquatic herb. Water mint, as it's also called, is native to the majority of Europe as well as northern Africa and western Asia.

# data[].attributes.body
Zebra Mussel

# data[].attributes.body
Dreissena polymorpha

# data[].attributes.body
Still or slow moving fresh water. They attach themselves to solid surface. They prefer calcium and non-acidic water.

# data[].attributes.body
They eat single cell organisms in the water and detritus particles. Small predators such as filter feeders eat them.

# data[].attributes.body
They originated from Eastern Europe and Western Asia.

# data[].attributes.body
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Dreissena_polymorpha/#:~:text=Zebra%20mussels%20live%20in%20still,is%20not%20acidic%20at%20all.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What do they look like?

Adult zebra mussels have a pair of roughly triangular shells connected by an elastic hinge, the outside of the shells are usually brown with stripes that give the species its common name in English, but patterns and the darkness of color varies. They grow to about 5cm maximum length. The ventral side of the mussel is flattened, so much so that the mussel shell will stand on a flat surface. In life they attach to substrate with a glue they secrete that forms fibers called byssal threads.

Where do they live?

Zebra mussels were originally found in the rivers and lakes that connect to the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, in eastern Europe and western Asia. Shipping and canal construction in the 1800's allowed them to spread west into most European rivers and lakes. In the late 20th century they were accidentally brought to North America, probably in ballast water of large ships. They now occur in the Great Lakes basin, most of the Mississippi River drainage, the Hudson River and many other eastern North American rivers. ( Nalepa and Schloesser, 1993; Neumann and Jenner, 1992; U.S. Geological Survey, 2008)

What kind of habitat do they need?

Zebra mussels live in still or slow-moving freshwater, and attach themselves to any hard surface under water, natural or man-made, including rocks, submerged wood, boat hulls, buoys, docks, and water intake pipes. They need water will dissolved calcium to live, and they grow best if the water is not acidic at all.

Most zebra mussels live in water that is 2 to 12 meters deep. In shallower water waves and ice make it harder for them to survive. They can live in much deeper water -- some zebra mussels have been found as deep as 60 meters, and they can probably live deeper than that.

How do they grow?

There are three stages in the life of a zebra mussel. The speed of development depends on temperature -- warmer mussels grow faster. About 3-5 days after fertilization, a tiny larva that emerges from the egg. This stage is called the veliger. It can swim upward (but not strong enough to swim against a current), and has only a tiny start of a shell. It grows, and when it develops several internal organs (including a muscular foot), and peak (called an umbo) at the hinge of its shell, it is in the next stage, the postveliger. The postveliger continues to grow, and after about a month, it settles onto a hard surface. It uses its foot to move slowly, and when it finds a suitable spot, glue itself to the surface, where it will stay for the rest of its life. Then it metamorphoses into the adult stage. ( Nalepa and Schloesser, 1993)

How do they reproduce?

Adult zebra mussels start to reproduce in the spring, when water temperatures rise to about 12°C. In habitats where they water stays warm year round, they may reproduce continuously. Females release eggs into the water, and males release sperm, and fertilization occurs after they are released. Females grow and release eggs in batches of up to 40,000, up to four times during the breeding season, which lasts as long as the water stays warm enough. Each can release as many as 1 million eggs each year.

Breeding season

Zebra mussels spawn when the water they live in is warm enough, usually starting in spring or summer.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

1 years

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

1 years

The only parental investment is in the production of eggs and sperm.

How long do they live?

Zebra mussels life span varies. Most live 3-9 years. ( U.S. Geological Survey, 2008)

How do they behave?

How do they communicate with each other?

Zebra mussels have no heads, and no eyes. However, they are sensitive to chemicals in the water, and can detect gravity, touch and temperature. If disturbed they will close their shells. ( U.S. Geological Survey, 2008)

What do they eat?

What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten?

Zebra mussel larvae have no special defense against predators, but they are so small that only small predators and filter-feeders eat them. The larvae are part of the zooplankton in the water, and pretty much any predator that eats zooplankton eats them. This includes many small fish (including the young of large fish), other zooplankton such as copepods, freshwater Cnidaria like hydras, even freshwater sponges.

Most fish can't eat zebra mussels because they can't crush the shells. A few fish species have specialized teeth and jaws that are strong enough to break the shells of mollusks, and some of them do eat zebra mussels. In Europe the roach, is a major predator of zebra mussels, along with bream, and silver bream. Round gobies and common carp, native to Eurasia, have been introduced to North America, and eat zebra mussels where they occur. The black carp is an east Asian species that has been introduced to Europe, and eats zebra mussels there. The pumpkinseed sunfish has been introduced to Europe from North America, and eats zebra mussels on both continents. Besides pumpkinseeds, the several other North American fish eat zebra mussels, including freshwater drums, redhorse suckers, river carpsuckers and smallmouth buffalos.

Some species of waterbirds are important predators of zebra mussels too. These are mostly diving ducks. Species known to feed significantly on zebra mussels include greater scaups, lesser scaups, pochards, tufted ducks, buffleheads, goldeneyes, common coots oldsquaws, herring gulls, and white-winged scoters.

Blue crabs ( ( Callinectes sapidus) consumed many zebra mussels during a study in the Hudson River. Crayfish, including the northern clearwater crayfish, Orconectes propinquus, may prey on small zebra mussels. Molloy, et al., 1997; Nalepa and Schloesser, 1993; U.S. Geological Survey, 2008)

What roles do they have in the ecosystem?

Zebra mussels can be very important in freshwater ecosystems. If they are enough of them, they can filter an enormous amount of plankton out of the water. This changes the flow of energy in the foodweb -- the energy in the phytoplankton goes to the bottom, to the mussels and the animals that eat them, instead of swimming plankton predators like zooplankton and fish.

Also, if zebra mussels clear the water, sunlight can penetrate deeper into the water, allowing more aquatic plants to grow. These plants provide food and hiding places for fish and invertebrates.

Zebra mussels attach to the outside of ( North American freshwater mussels. They slow the larger mussel down, interfere with its growth, sometime jam the shell open, and prevent the large mussel from feeding and pumping water in and out of its shell. Where zebra mussels have moved into the Great Lakes basin, native mussels have been wiped out. Great Lakes Information Network, 2008; U.S. Geological Survey, 2008)

Do they cause problems?

The introduction of zebra mussels into many areas of the world has created major economic problems.

The mussels grow on all kinds of man-made structures in the water, include water intake pipes for drinking water plants and power plants. So many grow there that they clog the pipes. Businesses and governments spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year to clear out the mussels and keep the pipes open. Mussels also grow on navigational buoys, sometimes sinking them, and on locks and dams, interfering with their operation. They grow on hulls of boats and ships, slowing them down and clogging engine intakes.

The ecological impacts of zebra mussels are still happening, and not all the effects are known. They eat phytoplankton faster than zooplankton in the water does. This means zooplankton and the fish that live in the open water (like walleye, salmon, and lake trout) have less to eat. Also, zebra mussels don't like to eat certain kinds of toxic blue-green algae. When zebra mussels have spread to inland lakes in North America, the amount of this toxic type of algae increases.

See the references for more information on the many ecological effects of zebra mussels, especially in North America.

How do they interact with us?

Are they endangered?

Contributors

Tiffany Murphy (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Great Lakes Information Network, 2008. "Zebra Mussels in the Great Lakes Region" (On-line). Invasive Species in the Great Lakes Region. Accessed December 17, 2008 at http://www.great-lakes.net/envt/flora-fauna/invasive/zebra.html.

Molloy, D., A. Karatayev, L. Burlakova, D. Kurandina, F. Laruelle. 1997. Natural enemies of zebra mussels: predators, parasites, and ecological competitors. Reviews in Fisheries Science, 5/1: 27-97. Accessed December 17, 2008 at http://www.sgnis.org/publicat/rfs27.htm.

Nalepa, T., D. Schloesser. 1993. Zebra Mussels: Biology, Impact, and Control. Boca Raton, Florida, USA: Lewis Publishers.

Neumann, D., H. Jenner. 1992. The Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha : ecology, biological monitoring and first applications in the water quality management. New York City, New York, USA: G. Fischer.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2008. "Zebra Mussel Species Profile" (On-line). National Invasive Species Information Center. Accessed December 17, 2008 at http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/zebramussel.shtml.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2008. "Zebra and Quagga Mussel Page" (On-line). Non-indigenous Aquatic Species. Accessed December 17, 2008 at http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/mollusks/zebramussel/.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Dreissena polymorpha: INFORMATION

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Adult zebra mussels have a pair of roughly triangular shells connected by an elastic hinge, the outside of the shells are usually brown with stripes that give the species its common name in English, but patterns and the darkness of color varies. They grow to about 5cm maximum length.

# data[].attributes.body
American Elodea

# data[].attributes.body
Elodea canadensis

# data[].attributes.body
It can grow free flowing or in sand. It prefers cool to warm water and to be fully submerged. It also likes full to partial sunlight. It lives in freshwater.

# data[].attributes.body
It derives nutrients from sunlight and the water. Wildlife such as snails can eat it.

# data[].attributes.body
It is native to Michigan and the great lakes.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.carolina.com/teacher-resources/Interactive/care-guide-elodea/tr33208.tr#:~:text=Keep%20the%20habitat%20at%20temperatures,is%20rooted%20in%20a%20substrate.
https://media.vwr.com/emdocs/docs/scied/Elodea.pdf
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/our-work/focus-areas/ais/invasive-species/invasive-species-fact-sheets/plants/brazilian-elodea/#:~:text=American%20elodea%20is%20native%20to,in%20whorls%20of%202%2D3.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
During photosynthesis, the plant absorbs carbon dioxide from the water and releases oxygen. Since oxygen is much less soluble in water than is carbon dioxide, the water quickly saturates with oxygen and bubbles form. The number of bubbles released per minute measures the rate of photosynthesis. Alternately, use a simple volumeter to measure the increase in volume of gas caused by the release of oxygen.
What is the difference between Elodea and Elodea Tips?
Elodea consists of Elodea sprigs that are about 11 cm (4 ¼") in length. We recommend these for aquarium plants and for studies of photosynthesis, although they can be used also for cell studies. Elodea Tips are the terminal 3 to 4-cm ends cut from sprigs. We recommend these as best for cell studies.
Why can't you ship me Elodea?
Some states restrict us from shipping Elodea densa because they consider it an invasive plant. We usually substitute Elodea canadensis, a native non-invasive plant, for orders going to restricted states; however, there are times when Elodea canadensis is not available and we must substitute another plant. Never release a non-native plant or animal into your local environment. To discard an aquatic plant, place it in a plastic bag and freeze it for at least 72 hours before discarding the unopened bag in the trash.
Can I substitute other plants for Elodea densa?
For photosynthesis studies, almost any aquatic plant will work. These include Ludwigia, Cabomba, Myriophyllum, Ceratophyllum, and Sagittaria. For easy viewing of plant cells with chloroplasts, consider Fern Prothallia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
During photosynthesis, the plant absorbs carbon dioxide from the water and releases oxygen. Since oxygen is much less soluble in water than is carbon dioxide, the water quickly saturates with oxygen and bubbles form. The number of bubbles released per minute measures the rate of photosynthesis.

# data[].attributes.body
Horsetail Reed

# data[].attributes.body
Euqisetum hyemale

# data[].attributes.body
They prefer high humidity. They like partial to full sun and prefer moist soil.

# data[].attributes.body
Caribou, moose, sheep and bears can eat horsetail, along with humans. They are only edible to humans when they are young.

# data[].attributes.body
It is native to the US, Canada, and Eurasia.

# data[].attributes.body
https://firstweeat.ca/2018/05/24/horsetail-for-supper/
https://www.wilsonbrosgardens.com/Horsetail-Reed-Grass-Equisetum.html#:~:text=Horsetail%20Reed%20Grass%20is%20a,%2C%20lakes%2C%20rivers%20and%20ponds.
https://www.thespruce.com/horsetail-plant-aggressively-spreading-weed-4125786#:~:text=Horsetail%20plants%20prefer%20high%20humidity,fade%20during%20especially%20cold%20winters.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The foraging season is now in full force! New edible plants are popping up daily. Many of them are only edible when they are young, so the window for a tasting opportunity is short! Horsetail, equisetum arvense, is one such example.

Horsetail is a relative of a prehistoric plant that grew to over 15 meters high 400 million years ago. Horsetail is eaten by caribou, moose, sheep and bears and, when young, can be eaten by humans too. The young, male horsetail shoots are edible when the fronds are pointing up. When the fronds start to point outwards or downwards, then they should no longer be eaten as oxalate crystals will be building up inside the stem.

If you catch them early, the young shoots can be eaten raw or steamed as a wild vegetable. Or they can be dried and used as a tea. They are rich in antioxidants and high in minerals including calcium, magnesium. Of note - long-term regular ingestion or horsetail can deplete thiamine levels (Vitamin B1). Also to be avoided in folks with edema, gout, heart and kidney disease.

If you don't catch them young, horsetail make good pot scrubbers while camping. Horsetail is high in silica and when dried and steeped in hot water apparently makes a great foot soak or hair rinse. Look for horsetail in damp open woods, meadows, dry sandy soil and disturbed areas. Research for this post thanks to Beverley Gray and the The Boreal Herbal.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Eating Prehistorically - Horsetail for Supper | First We Eat

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The foraging season is now in full force! New edible plants are popping up daily. Many of them are only edible when they are young, so the window for a tasting opportunity is short! Horsetail, equisetum arvense, is one such example.

# data[].attributes.body
Swamp Goldenrode

# data[].attributes.body
Solidago patula

# data[].attributes.body
It prefers partial to full sunlight in swampy areas. They also like fully sand or partially sandy soil. Soil/sand should be wet.

# data[].attributes.body
Many types of birds eat Swamp goldenrod along mammals such as deers and rabbits.

# data[].attributes.body
It is native to eastern United States.

# data[].attributes.body
http://www.karensgardentips.com/plant-profiles-how-to-grow/plant-profile-swamp-goldenrod-solidago-patula/#:~:text=Swamp%20goldenrod%2C%20also%20known%20as,and%20unbranched%20beneath%20the%20inflorescence.
https://www2.ic.edu/prairie/goldenrod.htm
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sw_goldenrod.html#:~:text=Cultivation%3A%20The%20preference%20is%20partial,sandy%20loam%20with%20organic%20matter.&text=Swamp%20Goldenrod%20prefers%20shaded%20wetlands,in%20higher%20quality%20natural%20areas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Description: This perennial wildflower is 2½-6' tall and usually unbranched, except where the inflorescence occurs. The central stem is light green to purplish green, sharply angled and sometimes narrowly winged, and hairless or nearly so; sparse short pubescence may be present above. Alternate leaves occur along the entire length of the stem, becoming smaller as they ascend upward. The basal and lower cauline leaves are 4-12" long and 1½-4" across; they are more or less obovate in shape and serrated along their margins, tapering to long winged petioles. The middle to upper cauline leaves are 2-4" long and ½-1" across; they are elliptic to oblanceolate in shape and slightly serrated to smooth along their margins. The middle to upper cauline leaves are either sessile or they have short winged petioles. The upper surface of the leaves is medium green and either hairless or covered with stiff minute hairs; the lower surface of the leaves is hairless and smooth. Sometimes the basal and lower cauline leaves become greenish yellow or wither away by the time the inflorescence appears.

The central stem terminates in an open panicle of flowerheads up to 1½' long and 2' across. On a robust plant, this panicle has long primary branches that are ascending to widely spreading; they are often recurved. Each primary branch of the panicle is divided into short secondary and tertiary branches that terminate in clusters of erect flowerheads (see photo of Flowering Branch). The branches of the panicle are hairless or sparsely short pubescent. Leafy bracts up to 1" long and ½" across occur along these branches. Individual flowerheads are about 1/8" across, consisting of 5-12 ray florets that surround 5-15 disk florets. Individual ray florets have yellow corollas that are petal-like; they are pistillate and fertile. Individual disk florets have yellow corollas that are narrowly tubular with 5 spreading lobes; they are perfect and fertile. At the base of each flowerhead, there are appressed phyllaries (floral bractlets) in several series that are green and narrowly oblong in shape. The blooming period occurs from late summer into the fall for about 1-1½ months. The florets are replaced by small bullet-shaped achenes with tufts of hair. The achenes are sparsely hairy; they are distributed by the wind. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous; sometimes a small caudex will form on an older plant. Clonal offsets often develop from the rhizomes.

Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, wet to consistently moist soil that consists of loam or sandy loam with organic matter. Some plants may lean over to the side if they lack adequate support from adjacent vegetation. A low area that is protected from the wind is desirable.

Range & Habitat: The native Swamp Goldenrod is occasional in sandy areas of northeast and central Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include typical swamps, sandy swamps, shrubby fens, shaded seeps, sandy pannes and interdunal wetlands near Lake Michigan, and bogs. Swamp Goldenrod prefers shaded wetlands where the soil is either sandy or non-sandy; it is usually found in higher quality natural areas.

Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract honeybees, bumblebees, leaf-cutting bees, Andrenine bees, Sphecid wasps, and Vespid wasps (Wilhelm & Rericha, 2017). The following bees are specialist pollinators of Solidago spp. (Goldenrods): Andrena hirticincta, Andrena nubecula, Andrena placata, Andrena simplex, Andrena solidaginis, and Colletes simulans armata. Some of these bees also visit Aster spp. (Asters). Other insects feed on the foliage, flowers, and other parts of goldenrods (Solidago spp.). These species include leaf beetles, larvae of leaf-miner flies, larvae of gall flies, larvae of fruit flies, plant bugs, stink bugs, aphids, leafhoppers, treehoppers, armored scale insects, mealybugs, grasshoppers, and larvae of many moths. The Insect Table has a more complete list of these species. Some vertebrate animals also use these plants as a source of food. Songbirds eating the seeds include the Indigo Bunting, Slate-colored Junco, Swamp Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, and American Goldfinch. Among herbivorous mammals, goldenrods are eaten by the White-tailed Deer, Cottontail Rabbit, Meadow Vole, Prairie Vole, and Woodland Vole (DeVore et al, 2004; Martin et al., 1951/1961).

Photographic Location: A sandy swamp at the Indiana Dunes State Park in NW Indiana.

Comments: This tall goldenrod has a rather messy inflorescence that sends flowering branches in all directions. Swamp Goldenrod is relatively easy to distinguish from other Solidago spp. (Goldenrods): 1) It usually occurs in shaded wetlands, rather than areas that are more sunny or dry, 2) it often has large basal and lower cauline leaves up to 12" long and 4" across, 3) its central stem is sharply angular and sometimes winged, and 4) on robust plants, it has an open inflorescence with flowering branches that are widely spreading or recurved.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Description: This perennial wildflower is 2½-6' tall and usually unbranched, except where the inflorescence occurs. The central stem is light green to purplish green, sharply angled and sometimes narrowly winged, and hairless or nearly so; sparse short pubescence may be present above. Alternate leaves occur along the entire length of the stem, becoming smaller as they ascend upward.