Crested Floating Heart(Nymphoides cristata)

Crested Floating Heart is a non-native aquatic plant that has been introduced from Asia via the water garden trade. It possesses white flowers with five petals with a white ruffle lining in the middle of each petal. The flowers sit above a heart-shaped leaf that floats on the surface. The plant has been found to root in 10 feet of water. Crested floating heart spreads rapidly and produces a dense canopy of leaves that can shade out native plants and can impair water quality. This plant has been identified in the Amite River Basin and should be reported if identified in other Louisiana waters.