Plant Management in Florida Waters
Hygrophila
Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Hygrophila polysperma
- Origin: India, Malaysia
- Introduction:Mid-1940s, aquarium trade
- Aquatic community: Submersed, emergent
- Habitat: Wet soils to water 15 feet deep
- Distribution: Central / South Florida, many canals
- Management effort: Complaint management
- 2020 Acres Treated: 15
Environmental and Economic Concerns
- Forms dense surface mats, especially in quiescent waters
- excludes light and oxygen penetration for native plants and animals
- hinders navigation and diminishes flood control capacity
- especially abundant and problematic in south Florida canals
- Fragile stems root at each leaf node, allowing rapid dispersal and establishment
- Expensive and extremely difficult to control
- Most public water infestations found in rivers or in lakes near river inflow
Management Options
- Biological: Extremely high rates of sterile grass carp (in canal systems)
- Chemical: Flumioxazin most effective, frequent applications of various formulations / rates of copper, diquat, endothall, fluridone and 2,4-D provide marginal control
- Mechanical: Harvest floating mats – fragments may start new infestation
- Physical: Hand pulling, raking