Haloragaceae

Myriophyllum aquaticum

Common Names: Parrot feather

Plant Form: Freshwater aquatic herb. Size: Up to 2 m long. Stem: Spreading, creeping or upright. Cluster together to form mats or masses. Leaves: Feather-like appearance in rings around stems, larger underwater, up to 4 cm long, bluish green. Flowers: Inconspicuous, tiny, white, with no petals, only 4 sepals (petal-like leaves). Fruit and Seeds: Not known to occur in Australia, reproduce vegetatively. Habitat: Slow moving streams and ponds, lakes, dams, wetlands. Distinguishing Features: Large bluish-green feather-like leaves are distinctive from native Myriophyllum species. Impacts: Blocks irrigation or hydroelectric water flow, displace and exclude native species, reduce biodiversity.