Water spinach
Quick Facts |  |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ipomoea aquatica |
| Origin | China |
| Introduction | Mid-1900s, vegetable crop |
| Aquatic community | Emergent |
| Habitat | Dry land, shorelines, floating mats |
| Distribution | Isolated sites, statewide |
| Management effort | Eradication |
| 2012 public waters / plant acres: | 1 / 0.1 |
Environmental and Economic Concerns
- Grows several inches per day
- Forms dense canopies over emergent plants
- Creates floating mats on water surfaces
- Common weed throughout the tropics, especially in rice fields
- Potential for rapid dispersal by persons planting as a vegetable crop
Ipomoea aquatica
Ipomoea aquatica
Management Options | |
|---|---|
| Biological | None available |
| Chemical | 2,4-D, glyphosate, imazapyr, triclopyr |
| Mechanical | Not feasible, fragments start new plants |
| Physical | Hand pulling |
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Status of the Aquatic Plant Maintenance Program in Florida Public Waters, Annual Report – Fiscal Year 2009-2010.
Last updated: 13 May 2013