A taxonomic treatment of aquatic and wetland vascular plants has been developed as a tool for identifying over 500 plant species inhabiting wetlands of the northern Great Plains region. The treatment provides dichotomous keys and botanical descriptions to facilitate identification of all included taxa. Illustrations are also provided for selected species. Geographical ranges and habitat preferences are described for each species, and a map is provided for each plant showing its documented occurrences by counties within the region. Additional information provided with species descriptions includes common name(s), flowering/fruiting periods, and nomenclatural synonyms. A glossary of botanical terms is also provided.

The salient features of aquatic vascular plants; The salient features of the aquatic environment; A link with land plants: the structure and physiology of emergent foliage; Life in two environments: the structure and physiology of floating leaves; Life in the water: the structure and physiology of submerged organs; Life in the substrate: the structure and physiology of underground organs; The freefloating habit; Vegetative polymorphism and the problem of heterophylly; Sexual reproduction and natural affinities; Vegetative reproduction and perennation; Some aspects of the geography of aquatic vescular plants; The growth of hydrophyte communities and their interaction with the aquatic environment; The problem of aquatic weeds; The control of aquatic weeds; The aesthetic and economic value of aquatic vascular plants.