Myriophyllum caput-medusae
Coarse Water-milfoil
Perennial herb rooting at the base, emergent section many branched. Submerged and emergent leaves different.
Additional information
- FamilyHaloragaceae
- StoreyLower storey
- Sizestems 0.3-2 m long
- Plant groupingAquatic & Semi aquatic
- LeavesSubmerged - egg-shaped, 12-20 mm long in rings of 3-8, leaves divided to midrib with narrow segments like teeth on a comb; Emergent - rings of 3-5 entire egg-shaped bluish-green leaves 6.5-8 mm long, often purplish tipped, becoming alternate,
- Flower colourMale - yellow to reddish; female - green with red stigmas
- Flowering timeOctober to April
- FlowersSingle stalkless male and female flowers in upper leaf axils. Spikes of male flowers above female flowers. Olive brown fruit, cylindric with spines when mature.
- Bird attractingNo
- Butterfly attractingNo
- Frog habitatYes
- Growing conditionsAquatic to a depth of 2 m in billabongs. Full sun, semi-shade.
- Garden usePlant in dams and large ponds.
- Commercially availableWholesale only - order in advance
- Conservation statusSignificant within the Shire. Known from very few local sites. More common outside the Shire boundary.
Photo Gallery
Photographer/s: 1 Euan Moore, Atlas of Living Australia website at http://www.ala.org.au. ©; 2 G. Thomlinson, Royal Botanic Gardens Board ©
Plant Communities