Eurasian Watermilfoil

Myriophyllum spicatum L.

Haloragaceae

▲▼ stems of eurasian watermilfoil

▲ leaf detail

▲ eurasian watermilfoil under water

Eurasian Water Milfoil: 

·         a submersed aquatic weed vascular plant with dark green, finely pinnately-lobed leaves (6-24 divisions/leaf) arranged in whorls around the stem

·         stems often reddish-pink in color and are rooted in the bottom sediment

·         flower spikes are reddish, emerge several inches above water at flowering, have tiny flowers

·         can spread rapidly, more commonly in colder waters (springs, and spring-fed ponds, streams, northern lakes)

·         forms a canopy over water surfaces that shades out lower-growing native species and affects water movement and oxygenation, which can affect fish populations

·         native non-aggressive watermilfoil has more rigid, stiff leaves and fewer divisions (7-10)on leaves than Eurasian watermilfoil

o   it also has emergent serrated-edge lanceolate leaves