Myriophyllum verrucosum
Lindl. Red Water-milfoilPerennial aquatic herb, glabrous; stems 0.1–1.5 m long, 1–1.5 mm diam., rooting at lower nodes. Leaves dimorphic; submerged leaves in whorls of 3 or 4, orbicular, 6–12 mm long, pectinate, with 14–20 pinnae; emergent leaves in whorls of 3 or 4, rarely 5, lanceolate to ovate, 3–9 mm long, glaucous green to reddish-purple, lower ones pinnately lobed or dissected, becoming entire on upper stems. Bracteoles lanceolate to oblanceolate or ovate, 0.8–0.9 mm long, entire or toothed. Flowers sometimes transitionally bisexual, sessile, solitary. Male flowers: sepals 4, triangular, 0.3–0.4 mm long, yellowish; petals 4, 1.7–2.5 mm long, yellow, caducous; stamens 8. Female flowers: sepals 4, triangular, minute; petals vestigial; ovary 4-celled, styles clavate, stigmas white. Fruit cubiform, straw-coloured, red or grey; mericarps cylindric, 0.9–1.1 mm long, with irregular ridges and warts. Flowers throughout the year.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, MonT. All mainland states. Widespread throughout most of Victoria, particularly in drier areas, where found in permanent and semi-permanent water.
Plants growing on mud have a stunted habit and are fertile, while those growing in deep, fast-flowing water remain sterile.
Jeanes, J.A. (1996). Haloragaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 887–908. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
