Brazilian waterweed, Brazilian elodea
(Egeria densa Planch.)

Overview

Appearance

Egeria densa is a submersed aquatic plant that invades freshwater systems throughout much of the United States. Often confused with hydrilla, Egeria densa has a smooth midrib on the underside of the leaf, whereas hydrilla has small teeth.

Foliage

The finely serrated leaves are usually less than 1 in. (2.5 cm) long and occur in whorls of 3-6.

Flowers

The flowers, which bloom above the surface of the water, are white with three petals.

Fruit

Outside of its native habitat, Egeria densa only reproduces vegetatively. Special double nodal regions can produce lateral buds, branches and roots. Only a double node can produce a new plant when it breaks off from the parent plant.

Ecological Threat

Egeria densa invades both still and flowing water ecosystems including lakes, ponds, ditches, and rivers. It can form dense stands that crowd out native vegetation and reduce the area's value as fish habitat. It can also interfere with recreational activities such as fishing and swimming. This plant was first introduced into the United States in the late 1800s as an aquarium plant.

Resources

• Fact Sheet - Ontarios Invading Species Awareness Program
• Global Invasive Species Database - Invasive Species Specialist Group

Selected Images

Maps

Invasive Listing Sources

• Alabama Invasive Plant Council
• Alabama Noxious Weeds - Class C Noxious Weed
• Alberta Fisheries Act
• Apalachicola Invasive Working Group
• California Invasive Plant Council
• Connecticut Invasive Plant List
• Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
• Connecticut Noxious Weeds
• Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council - Category 2
• Idaho Noxious Weeds
• Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
• Indiana Pest Species
• Indiana Prohibited Plant Species
• Invasive Plant Species of West Virginia
• Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia
• Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
• John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
• Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council - Watch List
• Maryland Aquatic Nuisance Species Plan
• Maryland Code and Regulations Nonative Aquatic Organisms
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources Policy: Restriction on Planting Exotic Invasive Plants
• Maryland Invasive Species Council - Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
• Massachusetts Invasive Plants Advisory Group List
• Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
• Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List
• Michigan’s Invasive Species Watch List
• Michigan’s Prohibited and Restricted Species
• Mid-Atlantic Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species
• Minnesota DNR invasive species list
• Montana Noxious Weeds
• National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
• National Park Service, National Capital Region Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
• Native Plant Society of Oregon, 2008
• New Hampshire Prohibited Aquatic Species
• New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
• New York Regulated and Prohibited Invasive Species - Regulated
• Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
• Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program Tracked Species List
• Oregon Noxious Weeds
• Pacific Northwest Exotic Pest Plant Council, 1998
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Invasive Plants
• Pennsylvania's Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species
• Rhode Island Natural History Survey
• South Carolina Illegal Aquatic Plants
• South Carolina Plant Pest List
• Vermont Noxious Weeds
• Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
• Washington Noxious Weeds
• WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
• West Virginia Native Plant Society, Flora West Virginia Project, and West Virginia Curatorial Database System, September 3, 1999
• Wisconsin Noxious Weeds
• Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40

References