African elodea
Lagarosiphon major
Family: Hydrocharitaceae
Other Scientific Names:
Elodea crispa
Weed class: noClass
Year Listed: 2015
Native to: Africa
Is this Weed Toxic?:
Not known to be
Legal listings:
This plant is on the quarantine list. It is prohibited to transport, buy, sell, offer for sale, or distribute plants or plant parts of quarantined species into or within the state of Washington or to sell, offer for sale, or distribute seed packets of seed, flower seed blends, or wildflower mixes of quarantined species into or within the state of Washington. Please see WAC 16-752 for more information on the quarantine list.
Why Is It a Noxious Weed?
This plant is not listed on the Washington State Noxious Weed List but is listed on the Washington State Prohibited Plants (Quarantine) List. For questions about the prohibited plants/quarantine list, contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture's Plant Services Program at (360) 902-1874 or email PlantServices@agr.wa.gov.
How would I identify it?
General Description
It is a completely submersed plant with long stems and many small, narrow leaves. It forms dense mats on water surface.
Flower Description
Very tiny, white to light pink, with parts growing in 3s.
Leaf description
Curved, stiff, 1 inch long and 1/16-1/8th of an inch wide, growing spirally up the stem
Stem description
Up to 20ft long, but only 1/8th of an inch wide. Brittle, and frequently branching,
Fruit Seed Description
very small and beaked
Where does it grow?
Fully submerged aquatic plant
How Does it Reproduce?
Primarily by cloning vegetatively from stem fragments.
How Do I Control It?
Chopping or cutting is not effective, as it will regrow quickly from segments.
For More Information
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants information on Lagarosiphon major
Invasive Plant Atlas information on Lagarosiphon major
Additional Photos
