EAST INDIAN HYGROPHILA

LANDHOLDERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTROLLING THIS WEED

Contain This Weed

Description A water weed that grows above and below the water surface in freshwater environments.

Leaves Bright green, brown or reddish, 0.7–8 cm long and 0.5-2 cm wide, oval shaped with pointy tips and covered in fine white hairs. Leaves are rounder and stalkless when above the water and are longer with small leaf stalks when submerged.

Flowers White to bluish-white flowers, tubular in shape, with 5 fused petals. Flowers grow between leaves and the stem of the upper leaves. Between 5-6 mm long.

Fruit Narrow fruit capsules about 7 mm long which split lengthways to release 15-30 seeds.

Seeds Tiny, pale brown, flattened and round.

Stems Emergent stems have a square cross-section and are slightly hairy.

Submerged stems are rounded.

Dispersal Predominantly spreads vegetatively from plant fragments dispersed by waterways and attached to wildlife, machinery, watercraft, and humans.

Confused with Hygrophila (Hygrophila costata) and Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides).

Control This is not a reportable weed. Manually remove where appropriate. Ensure all plant material is bagged and removed. Foliar spray with herbicide registered for aquatic use. Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts.