Myriophyllum spicatum

water-milfoil - The submerged, feathery leaves of Eurasian watermilfoil grow in whorls of four. Inconspicuous reddish flowers, pollinated by the wind, are borne in the axils of tiny, scale-like leaves on stems that stick out of the water. The plants occasionally set seed, but spread mainly from stem fragments, allowing them to hitch rides from waterway to waterway on boat propellers and trailers. Once Eurasian watermilfoil grows to the flowering stage, the stems break into pieces, which sink to the bottom of lakes and ponds, where they root. In spring, they grow quickly, shading out native plants beneficial to wildlife, degrading the ecology of lakes and streams, and interfering with recreational and industrial water use. [image:(c) University of Connecticut/ Invasive Plant Atlas of New England/ Leslie Mehrhoff]

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