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Freshwater Marsh Plants

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Four trail signs highlight common freshwater marsh plants that can be seen in the area surrounding the Burning Basin: Pickerel weed, Tuckahoe, Cattails, and Wild rice. Each of these plants offer habitat and a source of food for several species, as well as important ecosystem services such as filtering nutrients from runoff and preventing erosion along the shoreline. These species also have significant cultural uses by indigenous peoples dating back thousands of years, which are highlighted on the trail signs.

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Check out this guide to freshwater marsh plants!

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Freshwater Marsh Plants Images

Trail sign highlighting Pickerel weed (NOAA).

Trail sign highlighting Tuckahoe (NOAA).

Trail sign highlighting Wild rice (NOAA).

Trail sign highlighting Cattails (NOAA).

Tuckahoe growing on the edge of the Mallows Bay shoreline (Megan Ossmann/NOAA).

summer

Pickerel weed is easily identified by its purple flowers in the summer (Megan Ossmann/NOAA).

summer

Wild rice growing on the edge of the water (Sammy Orlando/NOAA).

summer

Trail signs describe the cultural significance of these plants in more detail (Matt McIntosh/NOAA).

summer

Cattails growing just off the walking path in Mallows Bay park (Matt McIntosh/NOAA).

Cattails growing just off the walking path in Mallows Bay park (Matt McIntosh/NOAA).

Pickerel weed growing on the edge of the shoreline (NOAA).