Definition: Submerged aquatic plants grow below the water's surface, whether attached to substrate or not. Some submerged aquatic plants may spend part of their life cycle above the water’s surface.
There are also 3 other types of Aquatic Weeds:
Ribbonweed
Species: Vallisneria nana Family: Hydrocharitaceae
Distribution
NSW, QLD, NT, WA,
Description
Forms slender trailing stems that root at the base. The leaves are long and strap-like, with narrow translucent sheaths at the base. The blades are also long and narrow with parallel margins, or gradually widening above, erect, but with the top end floating on the surface of the water (between 15-100cm long or longer, 1-3cm broad). The tips are rounded and minutely serrate, green and membranous, often covered with brown slime and silt.
Life Cycle
Perennial
Origin
Native
Mechanical Control
- Raking & cutting
- Weed Razer
- Weed Razer PRO
- Lake Mower
- Weed Rake
- ½ HP Aeration Fountain
- Harvesting
Sea Tassel
Species: Ruppia megacarpa Family: Potamogetonaceae
Distribution
NSW, SA, VIC, WA
Description
Found in hypersaline lakes, estuaries and lagoons and coastal areas of cooler climate. Produces leaves on stems up to 2m long. Leaves alternate in zig-zag arrangement. Immature flowers and fruit on coiled stalk.
Life Cycle
Perennial
Origin
Native
Mechanical Control
-
- Raking & cutting
- Weed Razer
- Weed Razer PRO
- Lake Mower
- Weed Rake
- ½ HP Aeration Fountain
- Harvesting
Giant Arrowhead
Species: Sagittaria montevidensis Family: Alismataceae
Distribution
NSW
Description
oval/linear shaped leaf blades with pointed tips (arrows), up to 25cm long and 10 cm wide at the top of each stem (leaf stalk). It also has long narrow strap-like submerged leaves up to 50cm long. Flowers appear in whorls or coils and grow on leafless stems. Male flowers are 3cm across with three white petals and yellow centres. Female flowers have no petals, resembling flattened green berries. Flowers appear below the height of the leaves during spring and autumn.
Life Cycle
Perennial/Annual
Origin
Introduced
Mechanical Control
-
-
- Raking & cutting
- Weed Razer
- Weed Razer PRO
- Lake Mower
- Weed Rake
- ½ HP Aeration Fountain
- Harvesting
-
Blunt Pondweed
Species: Potamogeton ochreatus Family: Potamogetonaceae
Distribution
NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
Description
Submerged annual or perennial with cylindrical stems up to 4m long, with stalk less translucent, narrow flat linear leaves up to 10cm long with rounded tips. Inflorescence an emergent, dense spike to 3cm long.
Life Cycle
Perennial/Annual
Origin
Native
Mechanical Control
- Raking & cutting
- Weed Razer
- Weed Razer PRO
- Lake Mower
- Weed Rake
- ½ HP Aeration Fountain
- Harvesting
Hornwort
Species: Ceratophyllum demersum Family: Ceratophyllaceae
Distribution
NSW, NT, QLD, SA, VIC, WA
Description
It produces leaves and forms a shoot about 80mm long. This breaks off and floats to the surface where it grows floating freely in the water. Stems up to 2m long, leaves whorled, forked 2-4 times.
Life Cycle
Perennial
Origin
Native
Mechanical Control
- Raking & cutting
- Weed Razer
- Weed Razer PRO
- Lake Mower
- Weed Rake
- ½ HP Aeration Fountain
-
-
Water Plantain
Species: Alisma plantago-aquatica Family: Alismataceae
Distribution
NSW, VIC
Description
It is a hairless plant that grows in shallow water, consists of a fibrous root, several basal long stemmed leaves 15-30cm long, and a triangular stem up to 1m tall. It has branched inflorescence bearing numerous small flowers, 1cm across, with three round or slightly jagged, white or pale purple, petals
Life Cycle
Perennial
Origin
Native
Mechanical Control
- Raking & cutting
- Weed Razer
- Weed Razer PRO
- Lake Mower
- Weed Rake
- ½ HP Aeration Fountain
- Harvesting