Left: Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) has stiff leaves that curl back against the stem and do not

occur in whorls. It is not present in the U.S. at this time.

BioStudies Exotic Species Identification Guide

HYDRILLA (Hydrilla verticillata) & EGERIA (Egeria densa)

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

Hydrilla
Right: Spiny naiad (Najas marinus) from brackish coastal waters has become established in many inland reservoirs. It has very heavy spines and does not have leaves in obvious whorls. Right: Bacopa (Bacopa spp.) has thick, fleshy leaves that are in opposite pairs, never in whorls. Flowers are white and have five petals.

Egeria

Elodea

LEGAL RESTRICTIONS: Hydrilla is prohibited by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Department of Agriculture, and USDA because of its rapid production of noxious growths that cause many ecological, agriculture, recreational problems. Egeria was removed from TPWDs prohibited list because of use in school science labs, aquarium culture, and failure of this species to develop and maintain populations in Texas waters. Elodea is not restricted in Texas.

Robert G. Howells BioStudies

160 Bearskin Trail, Kerrville, Texas 78028 biostudies@hctc.net May 2009
Images and materials herein are not available for reuse or other applications without written permission of the author.

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), waterweed (Elodea spp.), and Egeria (Egeria densa) are similar in appearance. Hydrilla is probably native to India and southern Asia, but has been introduced on all continents except the Antarctic. Egeria is native to South America and has also been widely introduced. Elodeas are from the U.S. and Canada. Both hydrilla and egeria have been placed in the genus Elodea in the past and egeria has been often been known as anacharis (Anacharis densa). Hydrilla introductions have been ecologically disastrous at many sites and earned it the name the perfect weed. Egeria has been problematic in some southern states, but is not generally ecologically noxious in Texas. Hydrilla often produces long stems that branch freely. Leaves are 0.4-0.8 inches (10-20 mm) long and 0.08-0.2 inches (2-5 mm) wide with toothed edges (often 10-39 teeth) and (usually) with a toothed midrib on the lower leaf surface. Some specimens in Texas may have only 1-3 small spines on the lower midrib, others may have only small bumps and occasionally spines and bumps are entirely lacking on the midrib. Hydrilla usually feels rough to the touch. Leaves on the middle and upper stem segments occur in whorls of 2-8 (most often 4-5). Flowers occur in sets of 3's with three white petals about 0.16-0.17 inches (4.1-4.3 mm) across. Hydrilla

may be monoecious (with male and female flowers on the same plant) or dioecious (distinct male and female plants). It appears that populations in the U.S. may be monoecious or dioecious, but some authors report American dioecious plants to be exclusively male, while others indicate they are exclusively female. Coloration is green with leaf midveins often being red; however, numerous specimens with green midveins occur in Texas and in aquarium plants grown under reduced light levels. Egeria is typically more robust, with longer leaves that are softer to the touch and lack heavy spines on their edges or midrib. It produces 3-petaled flowers that are larger than those of hydrilla or elodea. Egeria leaves usually occur in whorls of 5. Elodea is more finely built than hydrilla or egeria and typically has leaves in whorls of 3. It does not appear to be established in Texas. Hydrilla (above and right) has spines on leaf edges and on its lower mid-ribs. However, some specimens have spines reduced to small bumps.

Egeria

Hydrilla

Elodea

Hydrilla and egeria usually have leaves in whorls of 5 and elodea usually produces whorls of 3 leaves. However, hydrilla may have whorls of 2-8 leaves and egeria may have similar numbers as well. Hydrilla Hydrilla Elodea Hydrilla

Elodea Hydrilla Elodea Egeria

Egeria

Above: Comparative stems and leaves of hydrilla, egeria, and elodea. The elodea specimen shown is in poor condition. Below left: a typical hydrilla specimen. Below right: a particularly robust hydrilla specimen approaching the size of some egeria.

Most reproduction in hydrilla (and also egeria) is by vegetative means including fragmentation, runners, and stolons. Some genetic strains of hydrilla also produce seed. Hydrilla can also produce root tubers (left top) and turions (resting buds; left bottom). These tubers and resting buds are resistant to drying and temperature extremes, thus serving to allow survival and repopulation when conditions improve.