# Aquarium and Pond Plant ID > Identify commercial aquarium and pond plants to prevent invasive species. (iPhone/iPad app by United States Department of Agriculture-APHIS.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aquarium-and-pond-plant-id/id1450879213 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [United States Department of Agriculture-APHIS](https://appshunter.io/developer/511305053) - Category: Reference, Education - Price: Free - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 10.0 · 58 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2019-12-20 - Data updated: 2026-06-24 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aquarium-and-pond-plant-id/id1450879213/reviews.md ## What is Aquarium and Pond Plant ID? The worldwide trade in plants for use in aquaria and ponds is a multi-million dollar industry. Aquatic, semi-aquatic, and amphibious plants are exported, largely from tropical and subtropical regions, to countries around the world. This movement across international borders is of great concern, particularly since many aquatic plants have the ability to disperse widely through a remarkably effective variety of vegetative and sexual mechanisms. Serious ecological consequences can result when these plants are released into waterways, where they can become dominant and displace native plants. Many plants with origins in the aquarium trade have subsequently become serious environmental weeds in various countries, such as water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Salvinia (Salvinia molesta), East Indian Hygrophila (Hygrophila polysperma), Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana), Asian Marshweed (Limnophila sessiliflora), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), and Melaleuca quinquenervia. Many more have a high potential to become invasive. Aquatic weed species on the U.S. Federal Noxious Weed list are represented in 24 of the key's genera. This key allows you to identify genera of freshwater aquatic and wetland plants currently cultivated commercially in nurseries around the world for the aquarium and pond plant trade as well as some genera grown in private collections or in association with ornamental ponds. It attempts to capture a snapshot of the industry — to cover all the freshwater taxa in the trade as of 2017. The aquarium and pond plant industry is dynamic though; explorations are constantly undertaken to find new aquatic plants suitable for introduction to the industry, while artificial hybrids of already-established species are constantly being produced to generate new, more attractive plants. Preventing the introduction of invasive aquatic weeds into new areas, and slowing their dispersal once introduced, requires correct identification, yet the sheer diversity and phenotypic plasticity of aquatic plants makes their identification a challenge. This key is designed to be used by people with varying degrees of knowledge, from aquatic plant hobbyists to expert botanists. All images were produced by Shaun Winterton, except where noted in image captions. The splash screen and app icons were developed by Identic Pty. Ltd. Please see the Aquarium & Pond Plants of the World website for proper guidelines on use and citation of images. Key author: Shaun Winterton Fact sheet authors: Shaun Winterton and Jamie Burnett Original source: This key is part of the complete Aquarium & Pond Plants of the World tool at https://idtools.org/id/appw/ This Lucid Mobile key was developed in cooperation with the USDA APHIS Identification Technology Program (ITP). Please visit https://idtools.org to learn more. For more information on the Lucid suite of tools please visit https://www.lucidcentral.org ## Key features - Identify aquatic and wetland plants - Focus on commercial trade plants - Prevent invasive species - Suitable for hobbyists and experts - Image-based identification ## Recent user reviews (2 of 2) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aquarium-and-pond-plant-id/id1450879213/reviews.md ### 4/5 — I like it… *2025-04-13, version 0.1.1* This app works by asking you to compare the plant to an interactive list of features. Ticking the features you can recognise enables the app to identify the plant. This takes some work, and obviously most people would prefer simply to take a photo and hope the app gets it right. The trouble is, apps like that make mistakes. I like this app. It’s not made to make money. It’s made to help you identify plants correctly. ### 2/5 — Rubbish *2024-12-27, version 0.1.1* This is not an identifier. You have to identify it yourself through different processes of elimination and then it will give you the name of the plant. If you know this amount about the plant in the first place then you surely would know the name of it.Pointless ## Frequently asked questions about Aquarium and Pond Plant ID ### What types of plants can Aquarium and Pond Plant ID identify? Aquarium and Pond Plant ID focuses on identifying genera of freshwater aquatic and wetland plants that are commercially cultivated for the aquarium and pond plant trade. It also includes some genera grown in private collections or associated with ornamental ponds. ### Is Aquarium and Pond Plant ID useful for preventing invasive species? Yes, the app is designed to aid in the correct identification of aquatic plants, which is crucial for preventing the introduction of invasive weeds into new areas and slowing their dispersal once introduced. ### Who is the target user for Aquarium and Pond Plant ID? The app is designed for a wide range of users, from aquatic plant hobbyists to expert botanists, who need to identify plants accurately. ### Does Aquarium and Pond Plant ID have ads? No, Aquarium and Pond Plant ID is ad-free, allowing for an uninterrupted user experience. ### What is the update frequency for Aquarium and Pond Plant ID? The app was last updated on February 28, 2020, with version 0.1.1. Further updates would depend on the developer's release schedule. ### What devices is Aquarium and Pond Plant ID available on? Aquarium and Pond Plant ID is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. ### What is the age rating for Aquarium and Pond Plant ID? Aquarium and Pond Plant ID has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a broad audience. ### Where can I find more information about the Aquarium & Pond Plants of the World tool? More information about the complete Aquarium & Pond Plants of the World tool, of which this app is a part, can be found at https://idtools.org/id/appw/. The Lucid suite of tools is also detailed at https://www.lucidcentral.org. ## Version history (last 2 releases) ### 0.1.1 — 2020-02-28 Minor updates and bug fixes ### 0.1.0 — 2019-12-20 No release notes. ## More apps by United States Department of Agriculture-APHIS - [Citrus Pests Key](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/citrus-pests-key/id816016765) - [Citrus Diseases Key](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/citrus-diseases-key/id818939368) - [Dried Botanicals Key](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dried-botanicals-key/id818972882) - [Terrestrial Mollusc Key](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/terrestrial-mollusc-key/id818984385) - [Palm Symptoms Key](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palm-symptoms-key/id818991417) - [Palm ID Key](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palm-id-key/id818999178) All apps by United States Department of Agriculture-APHIS: https://appshunter.io/developer/511305053 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-24.*