Myriophyllum variifolium
Biostatus
Exotic
Conservation status
Not applicable
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Simplified description
Sprawling emergent perennial herb with bright green needle like foliage like a small pine tree Submerged leaves are finely divided and pale green in colour.
Flower colours
White
Detailed description
The emergent leaves are in whorls of 5-6 and are usually entire, although the lower leaves may have a few teeth. The submerged leaves have up to 19 elongated and widely spaced leaflets.
Similar taxa
Myriophyllum propinquum has reddish stems and leaves are arranged in whorls of 3-4, whereas M. variifolium has whorls of 5-6.
Distribution
Locally naturalised, Hunua Range, Auckland and Opawa River, Marlborough.
Habitat
Still and slow flowing water bodies.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November to February
Fruiting
None produced
Year naturalised
1990
Origin
Australia
Reason for introduction
Ornamental aquarium and pond plant.
Control techniques
Can be controlled manually, mechanically or herbicidally depending on situation.
Life cycle and dispersal
Stem fragmentation and lateral stem growth. It does not produce viable seed in New Zealand, with only female flowers known from field sites.
Other information
Etymology
myriophyllum: Many leaves
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Champion et al (2012). Freshwater Pests of New Zealand. NIWA publication. http://www.niwa.co.nz/freshwater-and-estuaries/management-tools/identification-guides-and-fact-sheets/freshwater-pest-species.
Attribution
Factsheet prepared by Paul Champion and Deborah Hofstra (NIWA).