Name: |
- Myriophyllum, from the Greek, murios
(myrios), "countless, infinite", and
fullon (phyllon), "leaf;
foliage"; hence "many leaved"
- alterniflorum, from the Latin, alternus, "by turns,
alternate"; and florus, "flower"; hence "alternating
flowers"
- Common name from the arrangement of the barren flowers on the
floral spike
- Other common names include: Slender Water Milfoil, Alternate Water
Milfoil (UK), Hår-Tusindblad (Dan), Rusko-ärviä (Fin),
Snàthainn Bhàthaidh (Gaelic), Wechselblättriges Tausendblatt
(Ger), Sikjamari (Is), Tusenblad (Nor), Hårslinga
(Swe)
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Taxonomy: |
- Kingdom Plantae, the Plants
- Division Magnoliophyta, the Angiosperms (flowering plants)
- Class Magnoliopsida, the Dicotyledons
- Subclass Rosidae
- Order Haloragales
- Family Haloragaceae, the Water Milfoils
- Genus Myriophyllum, the Water Milfoils
- Taxonomic Serial Number: 503903
- Also known as Myriophyllum alterniflorum var. americanum
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Description: |
- A perennial aquatic herb
- Leaves in whorls of 3-5, usually less than 3/8"
long; shorter than the stem internodes, pinnately divided.
- Stem very slender
- Roots white, unbranched, and thread-like. Not always
present.
- Flowers on a short leafless spike, ¾"-2"
long, raised above the water's surface. Bracts mostly alternate, linear,
shorter than the flowers; barren flowers alternately arranged in a short
leafless spike, with the fertile flowers about three together, in the
axils of the leaves, at its base.
- Petals 4, pink, on male flowers
- Stamens 8
- Pistil of 4 chambers
- Ovary superior (within blossom)
- Fruit nut-like, 4-lobed with one seed per lobe; segments
1mm-2mm long, rounded on back and base.
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Identification: |
- A submerged aquatic plant, identifiable as a milfoil by its finely
dissected, thread-like leaves.
- Distinguished from other native milfoils by
- short leaves, typically less than 3/8" long
- leaves shorter than stem internodes
- alternate arrangement of flowers (when present)
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Distribution: |
- Greenland to Newfoundland, Ontario, and Minnesota; south to Massachusetts
and New York.
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Habitat: |
- Acidic lakes. Also Lake Superior shore.
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Associates: |
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History: |
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Uses: |
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Reproduction: |
- Sexually by seed (uncommon)
- Assexually by budding (most common)
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Propagation: |
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Cultivation: |
- Hardy to USDA Zone 3 (average minimum annual temperature -40ºF)
- Useful as oxygenator in garden ponds, and as shelter for small fishes
and aquatic invertebrates.
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Links: |
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Comments: |
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Last updated on
26 February, 2004
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