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Weed Description: Aquatic
mat-forming perennial that usually spreads vegetatively by fragmentation.
Alligatorweed is an invasive aquatic weed that can be found in the coastal plain from
Virginia to Florida and westward to Texas. This weed is now also found in coastal
California. Leaves: Opposite, elliptic in outline, from 2 to 4 inches in length. Leaves have a distinctive midrib, are without hairs (glaucous), and are without petioles. Stems: Fleshy and succulent, light to dark green or pink to purplish in color, and reach 3 feet in length. Stems root at the nodes and are usually floating or trailing along the ground except for the tips that turn upward (decumbent). Stems are generally without hairs (glabrous) except for a few that occur at the leaf base. Roots: Fibrous roots occur at the stem nodes. Roots can be free-floating in water or occur in the soil. |