Which aquatic plant is easily recognized by its branched stem and whorled leaves?

The aquatic plant that is easily recognized by its branched stem and whorled leaves is Elodea. This plant, also known as waterweed or pondweed, typically displays a distinctive structure where multiple leaves grow in a whorled arrangement around the stem. This characteristic leaf arrangement, along with its branching stem, makes Elodea relatively easy to identify in aquatic environments.

In contrast, while watershield features a unique floating structure with shield-like leaves, it does not exhibit the clearly whorled leaf arrangement of Elodea. Watermeal is a tiny aquatic plant that appears as small, free-floating green dots and lacks stems or notably structured leaves. Duckweed, although it can blanket water surfaces, generally appears as small, flat, floating leaves rather than showing a distinct branched stem or whorled leaf formation. Thus, Elodea stands out clearly with its identifiable structural characteristics among these options.