Selected images for water soldier (Stratiotes aloides )

Appearance

Stratiotes aloides is a submerged aquatic perennial plant that becomes buoyant during the summer. It produces stolons. S. aloides is native to temperate Asia and Europe.

Foliage

S. aloides has bright green sword shaped leaves with serrated margins. The leaves that can grow up to 16 in. (40 cm) long grow into stalkless rosettes.

Flowers

The flowers have three white to pinkish petals.

Fruit

Fruits are fleshy berries that can each contain up to 24 seeds. It also spreads by offsets on the stolons.

Ecological Threat

S. aloides can form dense mats of floating vegetation that crowds out native plant species. It can change water chemistry. The large dense mats and the serrated sharply pointed foliage of S. aloides can restrict recreational use of the water and pose a danger to swimmers and other people that handle the plant.