Water-Milfoil Family [Haloragaceae] |
status
flower
morph
petals
type
stem
sex
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30th Aug 2010, MB&BC canal, Radcliffe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Frogbit top LH corner. This is has the shortest main stem of any Myriophyllem (aka Water-milfoils), being up to 1.2 m in length. Unsure what the lighter-coloured stuff floating on the surface is. Alternate Water-Milfoil centre-stage, and floating on and just below the surface. The spikes droop downwards at first then upright when in flower (with male, female and bisexual flowers in the flower spike). |
30th Aug 2010, MB&BC canal, Radcliffe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
[The pale green things are of some other plant, possibly the fruits or leaves from a nearby shrub or tree] |
30th Aug 2010, MB&BC canal, Radcliffe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Unlike the other Water-milfoils, this one has long leaves with numerous whorls - which branch off a main stem alternately, hence the common name. |
30th Aug 2010, MB&BC canal, Radcliffe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The leaves are in whorls of 4 (sometimes in whorls of 3). |
30th Aug 2010, MB&BC canal, Radcliffe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
30th Aug 2010, MB&BC canal, Radcliffe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
30th Aug 2010, MB&BC canal, Radcliffe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Each leaf has between 6 to 18 segments (far fewer than the 8 to 30 of the non-native Parrot's Feather, the 24 to 35 segments of Whorled Water-Milfoil or of the 13-38 segments of Spiked Water-Milfoil) |
unknown date, unknown place, IOW. | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Geoff Toone |
Dried specimens - this one younger and still green(ish). |
unknown date, unknown place, IOW. | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Geoff Toone |
unknown date, unknown place, IOW. | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Geoff Toone |
Dried specimens - this one younger and still green(ish). |
unknown date, unknown place, IOW. | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Geoff Toone |
unknown date, unknown place, IOW. | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Geoff Toone |
Not to be semantically confused with : Marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre), Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campestre), Uniquely identifiable characteristics Distinguishing Feature : See photo captions
No relation to : The name 'alternate' refers not to the leaflets which look similar to those of Whorled Water-Milfoil but to the alternate branching of the stems which is clearly depicted in the above photographs.
Many similarities to : other Milfoils such as Spiked Water-Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), Parrot's Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), It apparently grows in lakes, ponds, streams, dykes, preferring acidic waters (such as peaty water as found up to 780m high on your Authors bog walks in the Dark Peaks - except he hasn't noticed any there as your Author tries to avoid sinking in deep wet peat). Most often found in the North and West. Photos of flowers, both male and female required.
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Myriophyllum | alterniflorum | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Haloragaceae |
Myriophyllum (Water-Milfoils) |
Water-Milfoil Family [Haloragaceae] |