Water-ferns are small, flat, compact, moss-like plants that float freely on the water surface, often forming extensive reddish mats. Young plants are generally bright green, becoming pink, red, or dark brown as the plant matures and when exposed to strong sunlight. Upon close examination, these floating mats are seen to consist of many tiny ferns with multiple pairs of individual overlapping scale-like leaves that resemble a cedar leaf. Each plant may have a branching stem with several pairs of leaves, but only a single dangling root. Sold in a quart size portion.