Management effort: Maintenance to lowest feasible level
2017 public waters / plant acres: 241 (52%) / 645
2017 Waters / acres controlled: 96 / 3410
Environmental and Economic Concerns
Perennial, rhizomatous emergent plant
Rooted in the substrate – frequent floating mats
Forms dense rooted stands that can alter habitats and exclude native plants
Fragments drift into and colonize stands of emergent plants
overgrow and outcompete other emergent plants
dense floating / drifting mats shade out submersed plants
restrict water flow and motor boat traffic
Reproduces by seeds and fragment that drift to and colonize new areas
contribute to rapid spread and invasiveness
fragments easily spread by boat traffic or water movement
Expanded from a few Florida public waters in the 1980s to more than half in 2017
Two biotypes in Florida – O. cubense forma cubense, and O. cubense forma paraguayense
Not understood if different biotypes react differently to different herbicides and rates
Management Options
Biological: None available
Chemical: Glyphosate, Diquat, 2,4-D, Imazapyr
Mechanical: Occasionally harvest mats
Physical: Occasional drawdown and fire
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Status of the Aquatic Plant Maintenance Program in Florida Public Waters, Annual Report – Fiscal Year 2016-2017.