Pistia stratiotes (Water Bonnets)

Botanical name: Pistia stratiotes

Common names: Water Bonnets, Water Lettuce, St. Lucy's Plant

Family: Araceae

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is a floating plant, it occurs in lakes, rivers and canals, occasionally forming large dense mats. It produces small white to off-white flowers in the summertime. This plant is now used as an ornamental aquatic plant, but it can be highly invasive, as it grows very quickly and easily outcompetes other plants.