The relationship between land features and their spectral characteristics is important for the interpretation of remote sensing images.In this study

the spectral characteristics of a submerged plant Myriophyllum spicatum with varied coverage was measured with a ground sensor/radiometer

FieldSpecTM Pro JR spectroradiometer in the constructed lake of "Chongming International Wetland Park"

Shanghai.The results showed that the reflectance rate and the "red edge peak" of the first and second derivation of Myriophyllum spicatum rose with its increasing coverage

which was exhibited both at the visible band（500—650nm） and the near infrared band（700—900nm）.A regression analysis was carried out respectively between the coverage of Vallisneria spiralis and the reflectance rate

spectral indices at the wavelengths where the coverage responded the strongest.These results of regression analyses showed a clear linear relationship

and by which the coverage of Myriophyllum spicatum could be quantitatively deduced from the reflectance rate measured in situ.The implications of this in terms of the ability of hyperspectral remote sensing to distinguish and monitor the distribution and dynamics of submerged vegetation on a large scale are discussed.