MICHELLE WHEELERKEYSTONE COLLEGE

SEPTEMBER 18 , 2008

Curly PondweedPotamogeton crispus L.

Identification

Leaf: Alternate, all submersed, no leaf stalks. oblong, stiff, translucent leaves (4-10 cm long, 5-10 mm wide) have distinctly wavy edges with fine teeth and 3 main veins, sheaths (stipules) up to 1 cm long are free of the leaf base and disintegrate with age.

Stem: branched, up to 90 cm long, somewhat flattened.

Flower: Tiny, with 4 petal-like lobes, in spikes 1-3 cm long on stalks up to 7 cm long.

Fruit: Seed-like achene, 4-6 mm long including 2-3 mm beak, back ridged.

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class: Liliopsida – Monocotyledons

Order: NajadalesFamily: Potamogetonacease – Pondweed family

Genus: Potamogeton L. – pondweed

Species: Potamogeton crispus L. – curly pondweed

Distribution

Noxious Weed!

WashingtonConnecticutMaineMassachusettsVermontAlabama

Origin's

From: Europe, Africa, and Australia.

Affects

Can form dense mats at the water surface shading out native vegetation creating problems for recreation

Controls

Prevention – Avoid excessive nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in the pond water.

Mechanical Control - Can be removed by raking or cutting, especially in the spring before seeds appear above the water.

Biological Controls - Grass carp can be used to control curly leaf pondweed since it is one of their favorite food.

Chemical Controls - Herbicide treatments: Aquathol-K, Hydrothol 191, Komeen.

References

http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0025.pdf

http://water.cas.psu.edu/147.htmhttp

://www.great-lakes.net/envt/flora-fauna/invasive/pondweed.html

http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Pennsylvania&statefips=42&symbol=POCR3

Any Questions?