Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Saxifragales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Myriophyllum aquaticum
FAMILY
Haloragaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Learn more about Parrot-feather from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Myriophyllum aquaticum
FAMILY
Haloragaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Myriophyllum aquaticum
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 138-02-001:
Myriophyllum brasiliense FAMILY Haloragaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Myriophyllum proserpinacoides
COMMON NAME:
Parrot-feather
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide pnd_myaq2_001_lvd
)
JK Marlow jkm170322_198
March Greenville County SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
)
JK Marlow jkm170322_201
March Greenville County SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
)
Joe Standaert jst_d13025_greenville0052
May Greenville County SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
All leaves pectinate, feather-like; most leaves emersed, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).
COMPARE
aquatic plants
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Joe Standaert jst_d13025_greenville0182
May Greenville County SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
)
JK Marlow jkm0506k_22
June Union County SC
Sumter National Forest: Tyger Ranger District
)
JK Marlow jkm0506k_23
June Union County SC
Sumter National Forest: Tyger Ranger District
)
JK Marlow jkm0506k_30
June Union County SC
Sumter National Forest: Tyger Ranger District
)
JK Marlow jkm080611_021
June Greenville County SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
)
JK Marlow jkm160914_095
September
SE-EPPC Aquatic Plant ID Workshop
Whorled featherlike leaves (vs. Cabomba's opposite and dichotomously divided), per Weakley's Flora.
)
JK Marlow jkm160914_097
September
SE-EPPC Aquatic Plant ID Workshop
A rooted aquatic plant, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
)
Keith Bradley kab_m_aquaticum_0180
December Lexington County SC
Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Myriophyllum aquaticum
FAMILY
Haloragaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Myriophyllum aquaticum
FAMILY
Haloragaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America
Myriophyllum aquaticum
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 138-02-001:
Myriophyllum brasiliense
FAMILY
Haloragaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Myriophyllum proserpinacoides
1970
Emergent aquatic (rooted); Forb
Perennial
Habitat: Ditches, slow-moving rivers, pools, ponds, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: South America
Common (rare in Mountains)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- NC Department of Transportation
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 2014
LEAVES:
Leaves well-developed: pinnately divided with filiform segments
Whorls of 3-6, all similar, mostly emersed
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer/Fall
4 sepals
4 petals or petals absent
4-8 stamens
Inferior ovary
Usually bisexual & staminate in the same inflorescence
Flowers in leaf axils
FRUIT:
Spring/Summer/Fall
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Field Guide to Aquatic Plants of Alabama (Lovell, 2007) p24
- Invasive Exotic Plants of North Carolina (Smith, 2008) p098
- Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Georgia (Chafin, 2007) p233
- Field Guide to the Wildflowers of Georgia (Chafin, 2016) p392
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".