Can you identify this mystery plant if we tell you a few things about it?
It’s an alien from way down south. Intentionally brought into this country by people who needed to provide oxygen in confined spaces, it’s been loose in America for over a century. You can now find it in scattered locations from border to border and coast to coast.
Everywhere you find this plant growing where it wasn’t invited, you’ll find people who despise its nasty habits. Perhaps its worst habit is producing dense stands or mats that crowd out native vegetation.
To know this plant well is to appreciate its oddities. For example, it doesn’t need soil to grow, and even though it is a seedless flowering species, all of the problem plants are males.
Identifying this plant can be tricky. People often mistake it for a plant whose common name rhymes with the most common ice cream flavor.
The places where this plant causes the most trouble are places where drawdowns are most likely to play an important role in its control or eradication.
For the answer and further information, be sure to read “Mystery Plant 6 Revealed” in tomorrow’s Traveler.
- By Bob Janiskee - February 3rd, 2010 4:00am
Comments
Is is Selaginella? Sometimes call resurrection plant?
Sorry, Rangertoo, it's not Selaginella. Wrong ballpark.
The "qualities" of it's annoying habits match Kudzu, but I cannot identify the ice cream reference........
Not kudzu.
Hydrilla... ryhmes with Vanilla and grows in the water, hence no need for soil
The mystery plant is not hydrilla, Jay, but you've correctly interpreted the ice cream clue.
Lespedeza bicolor?
Is it Egeria densa? That is often confused with hydrilla which rhymes with vanilla.
Ranger Holly
Not Lespedeza bicolor, Lee.
Bingo! It is indeed Egeria densa, aka Brazilian egeria, Brazilian waterweed, Brazilian elodea, giant elodea, leafy elodea, South American waterweed, dense waterweed, or large-flowered waterweed. Nice job, Ranger Holly.
Also known as Anacharis is the aquarium trade. And just plain "Elodea" to grade school science teachers, although it shouldn't be confused with Elodea canadensis, which is native to many areas where E. densa is invasive.
Or maybe I should just shut up and let Bob talk about it tomorrow...
Shutting up has never worked for me, Kirby. Go ahead and knock yourself out.
it's so common around here in Louisiana and the in south . a water hyacinth
Water hyacinth isn't the mystery plant, Denice, but I sure agree with you on the abundance thing. Living here in the South, I see plenty of water hyacinth.