Lagarosiphon
Lagarosiphon major
Biosecurity Queensland must be contacted within 24 hours of sighting, call: 13 25 23.
family
Hydrocharitaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Category 1 Restricted Matter (Biosecurity Act 2014)
Category 1 – must be reported to a Queensland Government inspector within 24 hours
Common names
Lagarosiphon, African oxygen weed, African elodea, Coarse oxygen weed, Curly water thyme, Oxygen plant, Oxygen weed.
Schedule 1 - Prohibited Matter Biosecurity Queensland must be contacted within 24 hours 13 25 23. A submerged aquatic plant with stems up to 5 m long that are usually rooted to the substrate. Its small strap-like leaves (5-20 mm long and 2-3 mm wide) are densely arranged in a spiralling pattern along the stems. These leaves are strongly bent downwards and have minute teeth along their margins. Its tiny flowers are pink or purplish in colour and borne just above the water surface on long thread-like stalks.
Impact
Impact
Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) is regarded as an emerging environmental weed in Tasmania, and as a potential environmental weed or "sleeper weed" in many parts of southern Australia. It is also on the "Alert List for Environmental Weeds", a list of 28 non-native plants that have the potential to seriously degrade Australia's ecosystems which are currently in the early stages of establishment.Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) grows extremely quickly from the bottom waterbodies and forms dense mats of vegetation several metres thick at or just below the water surface. It will withstand low light levels, and can grow in water more than 6 m deep. Its canopy spreads out across the upper levels of a waterbody, thereby shading out and out-competing other underwater species. Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major ) can dominate freshwater lakes, dams and slow-moving streams and has the potential to become a troublesome weed of such habitats throughout the temperate and sub-tropical regions of Australia.Dense infestations are generally produced in nutrient-enriched waters. Such infestations can block light penetration, out-competing and displacing native water plants and affecting associated populations of aquatic invertebrates. They can also deplete oxygen levels in the water, thereby making waterbodies less habitable by native fish and waterbirds.Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) is a significant problem weed in New Zealand, where it completely dominates waterbodies, preventing their use for recreational activities such as swimming, boating and fishing. It has an early competitive advantage which allows it to successfully out-compete native species such as milfoils (Myriophyllum spp.) and pondweeds (Potamogeton spp.). Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) is also well established in the UK, where it has displaced other introduced waterweeds in recent years including elodea (Elodea canadensis) and Nuttall's pondweed (Elodea nuttallii).
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) is regarded as an emerging environmental weed in Tasmania, and as a potential environmental weed or "sleeper weed" in many parts of southern Australia. It is also on the "Alert List for Environmental Weeds", a list of 28 non-native plants that have the potential to seriously degrade Australia's ecosystems which are currently in the early stages of establishment.Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) grows extremely quickly from the bottom waterbodies and forms dense mats of vegetation several metres thick at or just below the water surface. It will withstand low light levels, and can grow in water more than 6 m deep. Its canopy spreads out across the upper levels of a waterbody, thereby shading out and out-competing other underwater species. Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major ) can dominate freshwater lakes, dams and slow-moving streams and has the potential to become a troublesome weed of such habitats throughout the temperate and sub-tropical regions of Australia.Dense infestations are generally produced in nutrient-enriched waters. Such infestations can block light penetration, out-competing and displacing native water plants and affecting associated populations of aquatic invertebrates. They can also deplete oxygen levels in the water, thereby making waterbodies less habitable by native fish and waterbirds.Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) is a significant problem weed in New Zealand, where it completely dominates waterbodies, preventing their use for recreational activities such as swimming, boating and fishing. It has an early competitive advantage which allows it to successfully out-compete native species such as milfoils (Myriophyllum spp.) and pondweeds (Potamogeton spp.). Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) is also well established in the UK, where it has displaced other introduced waterweeds in recent years including elodea (Elodea canadensis) and Nuttall's pondweed (Elodea nuttallii).
