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Myriophyllum heterophyllum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Myriophyllum heterophyllum

Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Haloragaceae
Genus: Myriophyllum
Species:
M. heterophyllum
Binomial name
Myriophyllum heterophyllum
Michx.

Myriophyllum heterophyllum (English: twoleaf watermilfoil[3] or broadleaf watermilfoil[4]) is a species from the genus Myriophyllum native to North America.[5] It was first described by André Michaux.

Description

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Myriophyllum heterophyllum is also known in English as either the twoleaf watermilfoil[3] or broadleaf watermilfoil.[4] It is a popular plant in aquariums or garden-ponds.[6]  The species is often misidentified or overlooked due to issues in predictions of infestations and dispersal. It is often mistaken as M. verticillatum in Europe or M. hippuroides, M. laxum or M. pinnatum in North America due to their similar vegetation.[7]

Range

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Myriophyllum heterophyllum is endemic to the eastern part of the United States and Canada.[6] In the European Union, the plant has also been found in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Hungary, Sweden and the Netherlands.[4] Citizen science observations also suggests occurrences in the western-part of the United States and Central America.[8]

Invasive species

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In the European Union the species is naturalised in the wild and poses a thread to biodiversity. It grows rapidly and can form dense mats just underneath the water surface, causing reduced availability of oxygen and sunlight. The European Union considers the risk of the species spreading high within the EU. As a preventative measure, Myriophyllum heterophyllum is included since 2017 in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list).[9] This implies a ban of the import, trade, sale and transport of the species within the EU.[6][10]

References

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  1. ^ Smith, K. 2016. Myriophyllum heterophyllum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T64318331A67730177. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T64318331A67730177.en. Accessed on 24 June 2023.
  2. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
  3. ^ a b "Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx". United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern". European Commission. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Myriophyllum heterophyllum". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  6. ^ a b c "Invasive Alien Speciesof Union concern" (PDF). 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  7. ^ Gross, Elisabeth M.; Groffier, Hélène; Pestelard, Cécile; Hussner, Andreas (2020). "Ecology and Environmental Impact of Myriophyllum heterophyllum, an Aggressive Invader in European Waterways". Diversity. 12 (4): 127. doi:10.3390/d12040127.
  8. ^ "Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  9. ^ "List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern - Environment - European Commission". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  10. ^ "European Regulation IAS". June 2021.