Maine Lakefront Property Owners Recognize Aquatic Invasive Plants with Blade shaped Leaves

Maine Lakefront Property Owners Learn About Submersed Invasive Aquatic Plants
Maine Lakefront Property Owners Learn About Submersed Invasive Aquatic Plants
August 21, 2014
Out and About for the Bangor Lakes Region of Maine Aug. 28-Sept. 3
Out and About for the Bangor Lakes Region of Maine Aug. 28-Sept. 3
August 27, 2014

Maine Lakefront Property Owners Recognize Aquatic Invasive Plants with Blade shaped Leaves

Maine Lakefront Property Owners Recognize Aquatic Invasive Plants with Blade shaped Leaves

 

Curly-leaf Pondweed Features Lasagna Noodle-Shaped Leaves

 


by Leigh Macmillen Hayes
In the final blog of our  series on aquatic invasive plants that Maine lakefront property owners should be on the look out for, are four with blade or strap-shaped leaves. Not all of Maine’s 6,000+ lakes and ponds have been inventoried in terms of native and invasive plants, so familiarizing yourself with these invaders is important. To learn more, join your the plant patrollers of your local lake association, or take a look at Lakes Environmental Association’s and Maine Volunteer Lake Monitor’s Web site. You can also find information at the Invasive Aquatic Species Program page of Maine.gov.

 

 

 

 

 


The four aquatic invasive plants with blade or strap-shaped leaves are Curly-leaf Pondweed, European Naiad, Brazilian Elodea and Hydrilla.
Curly-leaf Pondweed is just that. The seaweed green, submersed leaves are long, lanced-shaped and have wavy edges. Think lasagna noodles. Look closely at the margins or edges and you’ll see that the leaves are also toothed. These leaves are directly attached to the stem.The veination of these plants reminds us of stained glass windows.
These plants have a different growth pattern than some of the others we’ve told you about. The plants produce seeds and turions, a hard vegetative bud or structure that drops into the substrate and lays dormant until the fall. Plants grow in cold weather and reach maturity by late spring or early summer.

eurnaiad


European Naiad has clumps of spiny, stiff and arched leaves that grow in an opposite pattern along the stem. The teeth along the margin are visible without the use of a hand lens.
While the flowers are almost inconspicuous, the plant produces seeds in the axils of the leaf. This is an annual plant.

Brazwtrweed


Brazilian Elodea or Brazilian Waterweed has lance-shaped leaves that grow in a whorl. Four or more leaves are typical in each whorl. The diameter of a whorl is one-two inches.
One key thing to note is that Brazilian Waterweed leaves are noticeably longer and wider than Maine’s native waterweeds. Native waterweeds leaves have a smooth margin, whereas Brazilian waterweed has tiny fine teeth along the margins.
The white flowers produced by this plant is about 3/4-inch wide and stand about an inch above the water’s surface.
Brazilian Waterweed reproduces vegetatively from lateral buds. New plants form from fragments containing specialized nodes. This is a big plant that is not currently in Maine, but is found in most other New England states and New York.

Hydrilla125


Hydrilla is the most aggressive of the aquatic invasive plants. It thrives in low light, grows to depths of thirty feet, displays extremely rapid growth, has a wide tolerance range and propagates by clonal expansion. In other words, this is the “Big Baddy.”
This submerged plant features a trailing growth habit. Four to six small leaves are found in each whorl. Look for teeth on the edges and midribs of the leaf.
Hydrilla plants are usually rooted to the bottom of the lake or pond, but fragments can break loose and survive in a free-floating state. The plant reproduces either by seed or vegetatively. Small tubers, which help in vegetative reproduction, are found in leaf axils and along underground shoots.
What can we do as lakefront property owners to prevent the spread of these plants? Keep our eyes open — get to know the natives so that we know what should be growing in our Maine waters. AND check our boats, trailers and fishing equipment before and after we launch to remove any and all plant material. If there is a boat washing station near the launch site, use it. Or use a hose. Also, don’t forget to support the efforts of the lake associations that are working hard to eliminate aquatic invasive plants.
To learn about lakefront properties for sale on Annabessacook Lake, click on the green box above.
To learn more about Annabessacook Lake and the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine, check out the blog links below.
Lake Annabessacook in Monmouth and Winthrop, Maine: Home of Trophy Bass
Lakefront Property Owners Enjoy Hikes In and Around Monmouth and Litchfield, Maine
The Theater at Monmouth, a “Saucy Little Opera House” in the Winthrop Lakes Region of Maine

 

Stay Informed

Get the latest lake news delivered direct from Maine’s lake expert, Tom Ferent