Fanwort & Hornwort ~ New Jersey Kayaking

Fanwort & Hornwort

Fanwort

Fanwort is a fully aquatic true plant. It grows steadily through the warm months, and can choke-out large areas, then dies back in the winter. Fanwort produces tiny flowers above the surface.

-- Wikipedia

Hornwort

Hornwort is very similar to Fanwort. In fact, unless you are a botanist, it might as well be the same thing. Hornwort produces tiny flowers underwater, an easy way to tell them apart.

-- Wikipedia

Fanwort is the more common of the two, if you are paying attention. Both grow almost to the surface, but are not usually a problem for paddling. As with Water Lilies, I have tried to take Fanwort for the aquarium, but it just dies. My guess is it needs full sun and nothing less will do.

Plants, Wildlife,

Waterways

Waterways
( 40.07788, -74.59600 )

Here is a map you can use to see just water features. The level of detail increases as you zoom in. The boundary lines have been deleted, as they often follow and obscure water features. It is interesting to trace the rivers to their headwaters.

In the north, the state's two largest river systems are the Passaic and the Raritan, which intertwine. In the south, the Mullica forms a sizable river system. Only one river originates in New Jersey and leaves the state - the Walkill in the north. All others are captured by either the Delaware or the Hudson, or the extensive southern bays. The orange line is approximately the dividing line between east (Hudson/Atlantic) and west (Delaware River) drainages. The red line is the "fall line" - the boundary between the Piedmont uplands and Atlantic coastal plain. And that's your lesson in hydrology.