Eurasian Watermilfoil

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
  • it also has emergent serrated-edge lanceolate leaves

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