Submersed plants grow completely underwater and shape South Carolina’s rivers, lakes, and ponds.

Waterways in South Carolina are living, breathing systems. From tranquil ponds to busy rivers, the plants there aren’t just decorations; they shape the habitat, oxygen levels, and even the way herbicides behave when you need to manage them. If you’re studying Category 5 material, you’ll quickly see that understanding aquatic plant types is the gateway to safer, smarter herbicide use and healthier water.

Three main plant families you’ll hear about are easy to distinguish once you know where the leaves and stems like to live. We’ll keep it simple and practical, with a quick mental model you can use in the field: where the leaves sit in relation to the water surface.

Submersed (submersed) plants: completely underwater

Let’s start with the big one—submersed plants. As the name suggests, these plants grow entirely beneath the surface. Their stems can wind through the water, sometimes forming long, flexible networks, and their leaves are typically narrow and featherlike or blade-like. Some even have fine, delicate parts that make the plant look almost wispy under the water.

Why do submersed plants matter? They’re the underwater highways of many lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams. They provide shelter for fish and invertebrates, stabilize sediments, and contribute to oxygen production through photosynthesis. When you’re thinking about applying aquatic herbicides, knowing which species live completely underwater helps you predict how the chemical will move, how it will contact the plant, and how long it might stay active in the water column.

Common examples you might encounter in South Carolina include hydrilla, milfoil varieties (like Eurasian watermilfoil), and several pondweeds. These are classic submersed plants with elongated stems and leaves that stay tucked below the surface. If you’ve ever peered into a clear, still pond and seen a green, leaf-flecked underwater carpet, chances are you’re looking at submersed plants at work.

Floating leaf plants: leaves on the surface, roots beneath

Floating leaf plants keep their leaves up top while their roots sink or crawl along the bottom. The leaves float or ride on the surface, sometimes forming a patchy green mat. The roots are often submerged, anchoring the plant to the substrate, so these species can anchor themselves without pulling nutrients and light from above.

Think of a water garden where lily pads spread across the surface. The leaves provide shade and habitat, but the root system stays in the water below. The key trait here is surface leaves combined with submerged roots. This arrangement influences how herbicides interact with the plant: contact with the floating foliage matters, but the chemical also has to contend with water beneath the surface where the roots grow.

Emergent (emersed) plants: part underwater, part above

Emergent plants straddle the air-water boundary. They’re rooted in the water or mud, but most of their aerial parts—stems, leaves, and sometimes flowers—stand above the surface. Common examples include cattails, tule, and bulrushes. They’re the plants you often see along the banks, where the water is shallow enough that parts of the plant poke out of the water.

Why mention emersed plants? Because they occupy a different zone from submersed or floating-leaf plants. If you’re applying an herbicide, you’ll want to know whether the target species is primarily emergent or underwater, because the spray behavior, exposure, and potential drift differ. Emergent plants can still be part of the same water body ecosystem, and they can influence light penetration and sediment dynamics just as strongly as their submerged counterparts.

Why this distinction matters in Category 5 work

Understanding these categories isn’t just academic. It guides safe, effective herbicide use in several real-world ways:

• Herbicide contact and uptake: Submersed plants are in the water column and may absorb chemicals directly through submerged leaves and stems. Floating-leaf plants present a different contact surface—the leaves on the surface—while emergent plants expose mostly above-water tissues to the spray. The label directions for aquatic herbicides often specify which plant types are targeted and how to apply safely across different growth forms.

• Water movement and exposure: Submerged plants can be distributed through currents and wind-driven water movement. That means drift, dilution, and the potential for residues in the water column. Knowing the plant’s lifestyle helps you plan timing and application method to maximize efficacy while minimizing unintended exposure to non-target organisms.

• Non-target risks: Each plant type creates a slightly different habitat for fish and invertebrates. Submersed plants, for example, can host juvenile fish and aquatic insects in the water column, while emergent plants shade shorelines and influence sediment stability. A well-rounded plan takes these ecological roles into account so that herbicide use doesn’t disrupt critical life stages.

• Regulatory and label considerations: In South Carolina, as elsewhere, pesticide labels regulate how and where aquatic herbicides can be applied. The label often notes the plant growth form it’s designed to treat, the waterbody types, and any restrictions to protect aquatic life. Respecting these details isn’t just about compliance; it’s about responsible stewardship of your state’s water resources.

Field-friendly tips to tell the plant types apart

• Look at the surface: Do the leaves ride on top of the water, or are they submerged? Floating-leaf plants will usually display a broad, flat leaf surface on the water’s surface.

• Check the roots: If you pull a plant gently, do the roots actively hang down from the submerged part, or are the roots entirely beneath the surface? Submersed plants will show roots that anchor into the substrate under several inches of water.

• Inspect the growth habit: Emergent plants typically rise above the water level with a visible stem or leaf mass that sticks up above the surface, especially near the shoreline. Submersed plants tend to stay below the surface, while their leaves stay in an underwater stretch.

• Use a field guide or trusted resource: Local extension offices, like Clemson Cooperative Extension, and the South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation offer guidance on identifying aquatic plants common to the Carolinas. They can help you cross-check photos and key features.

A quick mental framework you can carry

• If the leaves are entirely underwater and the plant uses its structure to absorb nutrients from the water, it’s likely submersed.

• If the leaves float or drift on the surface while roots stay below, it’s a floating-leaf plant.

• If most of the plant rises above the water, with roots embedded in the wet soil or mud at the edge, it’s emergent.

• Some plants can share habits, but most species show a clear pattern that aligns with their main growth zone.

A few real-world notes from the Carolinas

South Carolina’s lakes, ponds, and slow rivers host a mix of submersed and emergent species. Hydrilla and milfoils are classic submersed players that can form dense underwater mats, affecting water flow and light. Water lilies and other floating-leaf species paint the surface with broad leaves, providing shade and habitat. Emergent sorts line the banks, offering structure and shelter for wildlife and helping prevent erosion.

When you’re in the field for any Category 5-related work, it’s useful to bring along a simple field guide or a digital reference that covers local species. A quick photo check against a reliable resource can save time and reduce misidentification—a small but important step when considering herbicide choices and application timing.

Putting the knowledge into practice (safely and effectively)

• Start with precise identification: Confirm whether you’re dealing with submersed, floating-leaf, or emergent plants. This informs which label sections apply and how the product will behave.

• Respect the waterbody context: Small ponds, large lakes, and flowing streams all host different plant communities. The same herbicide can behave differently depending on water depth, flow, and temperature.

• Prioritize environmental safety: Avoid harming fish, amphibians, or beneficial invertebrates. Always follow label directions for timing, dosing, and buffer zones around water bodies and downstream areas.

• Leverage local expertise: Reach out to the South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation and state extension services for region-specific advice. They’re great partners for practical, on-the-ground guidance.

A concise recap

• The correct classification for a plant that grows completely submerged is submersed plants.

• Submersed plants live entirely underwater, provide important ecological benefits, and require careful, informed handling when herbicides are used.

• Floating-leaf plants have leaves on the surface with submerged roots; emergent plants rise above the water with parts of the plant exposed.

• For anyone working with aquatic herbicides in South Carolina, knowing these distinctions helps with accurate identification, safer application, and better outcomes for water quality.

If you’re curious to dig deeper, there are reliable, region-specific resources that can sharpen both your identification skills and your understanding of how these plant types influence herbicide choices. Local extension offices, state agencies, and credible field guides are all valuable allies as you navigate the nuances of Category 5 work in the Palmetto State.

Bottom line: next time you’re near a Carolinas’ shoreline, take a moment to ask yourself where the plant’s leaves live. Are they basking on the surface, or are they tucked beneath the water’s veil? If you can answer that quickly, you’ll have a stronger sense of how water will respond to management efforts—and you’ll be better prepared to protect the health of these beloved water bodies for years to come.