Myriophyllum lophatum
Orchard Crested Water-milfoilPerennial semi-aquatic or emergent herb; stems prostrate, rooting at the nodes, tips erect, 2–3 cm tall, c. 1 mm diam. Leaves opposite, linear, with a terminal gland, 2.5–7 mm long, margins entire. Bracteoles of male flowers oblong to oblanceolate, 1.2–1.8 mm long; bracteoles of female flowers similar 0.5–0.7 mm long; flowers solitary, male and female flowers on same or different shoot. Male flowers initially sessile with the pedicel elongating to 10 mm; sepals absent or 1–4, vestigial, filiform, caducous; petals 4, 1.7–2 mm long, red; stamens 8. Female flowers sessile; sepals and petals absent; ovary 4-celled, styles sessile, stigmas white. Fruit cubiform to cylindric, red to yellowish-brown; mericarps ovoid to cylindric, 0.6–0.8 mm long, truncate, with an irregular dorsal crest and 2 smaller lateral crests. Flowers summer.
GipP, HNF, VAlp. Also NSW, ACT. In Victoria apart from an isolated near-coastal occurrence in the Yarram area, apparently confined to the north-eastern border area. Grows along boggy stream margins, around waterholes and in wet depressions.
In the absence of flowers and fruit, this species is almost indistinguishable from Myriophyllum pedunculatum. Myriophyllum lophatum generally has a shorter stature, the flowers lack persistent sepals and the fruit is truncate and crested.
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
