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Other submerged plants include hornwort, starwort, fanwort,
watershield, pondweed and giant waterweed. Individual species are
known locally as coontail, foxtail, cedar form, fish grass, water laurel and
parrot's feather.

Hornwort has bristle-like leaves, finely divided and forming a
compact mass. Coontail is a member of the same family, with light-green
branches or leaves resembling a spruce tree. Starwort has dark-green leaves
which grow closely together at the end of the stem, forming a star-like cluster
on the surface of shallow water.

Pondweed has long, narrow leaves, with small, green flowers borne
on spikes above the water. It is found in ponds and sluggish streams, and is
adaptable to sandy soil and deep water. One variety has oval leaves which
float upon the surface. Water weed, somewhat similar but of a different
family, has dark-green leaves and brittle stems.

Fanwort, and the related water shield, are known as cabombas. These
plants, also called fish grass, are good oxygen producers and are among the
commonest plants for fish globes and aquariums. Fanwort takes root easily and
will live several weeks without earth. Some varieties have reddish leaves and
purple stems. The leaves of the water shield are covered with a jelly-like coating.

All cabombas are good for fish pools and should be planted in soil
buried in pots at the bottom of the water, where the pots may be hidden with
stones. Willow moss, a dark-green native, is also a good oxygen producer and
grows well attached to submerged stones.