problem plant

[Mak]

so for the past 3 years theres been a plant taking over the shallow, nonmoving parts of my home lake.

and this last year its gotten out of control.  its now consumed about 60-70% of my favorite spot.  its a viney plant, thats really thick.  way to thick to be able to fish with anything. its not rooted to the ground or anything it just has these real fine thick hair-like white roots that float in the water.  and it grows unbelievibly fast.

all of the plants that you see in the pictures are floating on top of 1-3 feet of water and none of it is on land.  and the dead plants in the middle are the last of the remaining lilly pads that used to be there.  im guessing the viney plants take all the nutrients from the water, because all the other lilly pads in the area are in really bad shape, almost like they were in the winter.

and i live in southeast virginia,  is it supposed to be in the waters at all?

[Mak]

another pict

[Mak]

2 more

[Mak]

last one

[T-rig]

This must be some kind of introduced (invasive) water plant. What kind it is I don't know but I'm sure someone else will. If that plant grows that fast it will soon be growing all over the place and something has to be done to get wrid of it otherwise you wont have any more spots to fish. Looks like pretty thick stuff so I imagine fishing in that is impossible.

[RoLo]

Based on your pictures and your description, it's my guess that you're dealing with "alligatorweed"

The botanical name is Alternanthera philoxeroides. Alligatorweed has pinwheel foliage and clover-like blooms.

It's a highly rampant plant that forms floating blankets, which may become dense enough to support a heavy animal.

Roger

[carySE406]

I hate that stuff, it is starting to dominate the entire shoreline at a pond I fish.

[Bass Smacker]

I'v seen something like that on the Ca Delta. It will take over and kill evry thing in the lake/pond.

Itr probubly came from some ones koi pond and got dumped there (people think it will look perty on the lake >)    

[Mak]

  Quote

Based on your pictures and your description, it's my guess that you're dealing with "alligatorweed"

The botanical name is Alternanthera philoxeroides. Alligatorweed has pinwheel foliage and clover-like blooms.

It's a highly rampant plant that forms floating blankets, which may become dense enough to support a heavy animal.

Roger

if by heavy animal you mean me, then yes.  i put on some waiters(sp) to clear a path for my jonboat and instead of going through it, the plant just sunk some and i could walk on it.  if i were to lay down flat and distrubute my weight evenly im sure i could be completely above water.

[Mak]

so i looked it up and all the pictures and descriptions of aligatorweed match the stuff in my lake.  and its an invasive plant from south america.

[Matt Fly]

This ia a very good site for plant identification for future use.      For me to post a Texas A&M website, its gotta be worth it.    LOL

http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/database/submerged_plants/hydrilla.htm

Hope this helps for future questions.

Hookem

Matt

[MattStrykul]

Mak where do you live??

[frogtog]

Rolo you are correct it is as we call it Gatorweed. Mak you need to contact your local extension agent and let them know what you have. Don't take a boat out of there and carrie it to another lake without washing it first. This stuff is bad news for a lake or pond.

[NCthompson]

i have this stuff too. how does it get there? its in a creek in the woods behind my house.

[RoLo]

  Quote

  Quote

Based on your pictures and your description, it's my guess that you're dealing with "alligatorweed"

The botanical name is Alternanthera philoxeroides. Alligatorweed has pinwheel foliage and clover-like blooms.

It's a highly rampant plant that forms floating blankets, which may become dense enough to support a heavy animal.

Roger

if by heavy animal you mean me, then yes. i put on some waiters(sp) to clear a path for my jonboat and instead of going through it, the plant just sunk some and i could walk on it. if i were to lay down flat and distrubute my weight evenly im sure i could be completely above water.

so i looked it up and all the pictures and descriptions of aligatorweed match the stuff in my lake.

Thanks to your excellent photos, plant identification was possible (great field work on your part).

Normally I get a sketchy field remarks like "It's bright green, stands about 18" tall and has white flowers in summer" ;D

Anyway, once you've seen alligatorweed you never forget it; and yes, when it's very dense it might support a human being.

Roger