Cape Pondweed - Invasive Species Information
What Is Cape Pondweed - (Aponogeton distachyos)?
Habitat: Slow Moving Water, Lakes and Ponds
Distribution in Ireland: Limited wetland areas
Status: Established
Family name: Aponogetonaceae
Reproduction: Seeds prolifically. Spreads by seeds and tubers. Seeds are dispersed by water and waterfowl.
Cape Pondweed, also known as water hawthorn, is an aquatic plant growing from a tuberous rhizome.
Cape Pondweed - Aponogeton distachyos Leaves & Flowers
Cape pondweed has a basal globose tuber, 3-4 cm in diameter. Floating leaves are basal, dark green, up to 25 cm long, narrow-lanceolate in shape, and with many distinctive cross veins. Submerged leaves are linear in shape. Flowers are on a two- forked spike with fleshy white lobes and very fragrant.
The often mottled leaves float on the water surface from a petiole up to 1 m long from the rhizome;
How To Identify Cape Pondweed?
Leaf: Light Green Leaf the leaf blade is narrow oval, 6–25 cm long and 1.5–7.7 cm broad, with an entire margin and parallel veins.
Flower: White Flower with pale yellow stamen
Size: Can grow almost indefinitely in slow moving water pools
Cape Pondweed - Aponogeton distachyos ID Guide
Cape Pondweed - Aponogeton distachyos Flower, Roots and Leaves
Why Is Cape Pondweed A Problem?
Infestations can provide breeding grounds for mosquitos. Impacts could occur in waters such as slow flowing freshwater streams and rivers, and in lakes and ponds.
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Can form mats on the water surface which can block waterways and contribute to flooding.