limnophila
(Limnophila sessiliflora)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Appearance
Limnophila sessiliflora is a rooted, aquatic, perennial, herbaceous plant that grows up to 12 ft (3.7 m) tall. It is fast growing, grows new plants from fragments, and can exist in a variety of aquatic habitats.
Foliage
Leaves of this plant have two types of whorled polymorphic leaves. The submerged stems have dissected, dark green, lance shaped leaves up to 1.2 in. (30 mm) long with irregularly serrated margins. The emergent stems have flat shiny hairs and fine, needle like leaves up to 0.12 in. (3 cm) long.
Flowers
The small flowers are sessile and arise singly from the leaf axis. The violet, lavender, pink, or blue flowers have five fused petals that form a tube. The floral tube has two lips, which have distinct purple lines on the undersides. The five sepals are green and hairy. Sepals are from 0.16-0.2 in. (4-5 mm) long.
Fruit
The fruit is an ellipsoid capsule that can contain up to 150 seeds.
Ecological Threat
L. sessiliflora can shade out and out compete other aquatic plants. It can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions. L. sessiliflora is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed.
Resources
- Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the U.S. - USDA-APHIS
- Images, Video and Information - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
- Apalachicola Invasive Working Group
- Federal Noxious Weeds
- Florida Invasive Plant Council - Plant List - Category II
- Florida Noxious Weeds
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council - Category 3
- Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
- Indiana Pest Species
- Indiana Prohibited Plant Species
- Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia
- Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
- Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List
- New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee. 2005. Guide to Invasive Upland Plant Species in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food Plant Industry Division and New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee.
- New Hampshire Prohibited Aquatic Species
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- South Carolina Illegal Aquatic Plants
- South Carolina Plant Pest List
- Texas Noxious Weeds
- USDA APHIS Regulated Pest List
- Wisconsin Noxious Weeds
- Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Asteranae |
| Order: Lamiales |
| Family: Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: Limnophila |
| Limnophila sessiliflora |
References
Common Name Reference: Weed Science Society of America Common Names List
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.