Potamogeton crispus

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Potamogeton crispus
PotamogetonCrispus.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Potamogetonaceae
Genus: Potamogeton
Species:
P. crispus
Binomial name
Potamogeton crispus
Synonyms [1]
  • Buccaferrea crispataBubani, 1901
  • Potamogeton austriacusGand., 1881
  • Potamogeton concinnitusA.Benn., 1908
  • Potamogeton crenulatusD.Don, 1825
  • Potamogeton crispatusWallm. ex Rchb., 1830
  • Potamogeton crispus var. gemmiferRchb., 1845
  • Potamogeton crispus var. macrorrhynchus(Gand.) Asch. & Graebn., 1897
  • Potamogeton crispus var. najadoidesGraebn., 1907
  • Potamogeton crispus var. phialiensisPost, 1893
  • Potamogeton crispus var. serrulatus(Opiz) Schrad. ex Rchb., 1845
  • Potamogeton hohenackeriGand., 1881
  • Potamogeton hungaricusGand., 1881
  • Potamogeton lactucaceumFriche-Joset & Montandon, 1856
  • Potamogeton leptophyllusGand., 1881
  • Potamogeton macrorrhynchusGand., 1881
  • Potamogeton notarisiiGand., 1881
  • Potamogeton pallidiorGand., 1881
  • Potamogeton rubricansGand., 1881
  • Potamogeton rubrinaevusGand., 1881
  • Potamogeton serrulatusOpiz, 1822
  • Potamogeton tuberosusRoxb., 1832

Potamogeton crispus, the crisp-leaved pondweed, [2] curly pondweed, [3] curly-leaf pondweed or curled pondweed, is a species of aquatic plant (hydrophyte) native to Eurasia but an introduced species and often a noxious weed in North America.

Contents

Potamogeton crispus.jpeg

Description

Curly-leaf pondweed is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing a flattened, branching stem up to a meter long. The submerged leaves are alternately arranged. [3] The leaves are sessile, linear or oblong in shape, 25–95 millimetres (1–3+34 in) long and 5–12 millimetres (3161532 in) wide. [4] The leaves may be bright green, olive green or (especially later in the season) fibrous [2] and brownish and have noticeably serrated margins, a feature that distinguishes them from other pondweeds. The leaves usually have wavy edges but this is not always apparent, especially on new growth. [4] Turions occur in leaf axils and at stem tips.

The inflorescence is a short spike of flowers emerging above the water surface. It flowers from May until October. [5]

Potamogeton crispus turion.JPG

The turions of the plant develop along with the fruits and germinate, leaving the newly sprouted plants to overwinter. [6]

Although quite variable, P. crispus is usually a straightforward plant to identify. Hybrids with various other pondweeds are recorded, but these do not usually closely resemble P. crispus.

There are described hybrids with Potamogeton trichoides (P. × bennettiiFryer), P.perfoliatus (P. × cooperi(Fryer) Fryer), P. alpinus (P. × olivaceusBaagøe ex G.Fisch.), P.lucens (P. × cadburyaeDandy & G.Taylor), P. praelongus (P. × undulatusWolgf.), P. ochreatus (P. × jacobsiiZ.Kaplan, Fehrer & Hellq.) and P. friesii (P. × lintoniiFryer). [7]

Distribution

Potamogeton crispus is native to a wide range of countries in Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia (Sumatra), Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam); Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and Europe. [8] It has been introduced to the Americas [9] and New Zealand. [8] [10]

Ecology

Curly pondweed is widespread and common across most of its native range, growing in standing and slow-flowing water including small ponds and ditches. It is strictly a lowland plant and requires fine substrates in standing or slow-flowing calcareous water. However, it is tolerant of significant nutrient pollution, and this has allowed it to persist in intensively farmed areas where more sensitive pondweeds have declined. Its production of both seed and turions makes it relatively resistant to disturbance such as dredging, in contrast to some of the larger broad-leaved pondweeds, although cutting down to the sediment surface in the early growing season may inhibit turion production. [10]

In a silty stream in southern Britain Potamogeton crispus Dorset.JPG
In a silty stream in southern Britain

Environmental impact

This pondweed is considered an invasive species in much of North America. It was introduced to the Great Lakes and inland lakes within that region. The plant thrives in conditions normally less habitable to native plant species. It is also able to survive beneath the surface of frozen waterways and resume its rapid vegetative growth before other water plants can regrow. [9] It competes with native plant life and sometimes displaces it. Curly pondweed may clog waterways, inhibiting aquatic recreation, and is considered a nuisance in some areas. [9] It has also been introduced to South America and New Zealand. [8]

Cultivation

Potamogeton crispus is sometimes cultivated as a pond plant, and generally speaking makes a good garden plant. Since it starts to die back rather early, it is probably a good idea to cut it back in July after it has flowered. In common with other pondweeds of this group it roots poorly from stem cuttings and is best propagated by division of the rhizomes or from turions. As it has proved invasive in some areas, curly pondweed should not be grown outside its native range. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Potamogeton</i> Genus of aquatic plants

Potamogeton is a genus of aquatic, mostly freshwater, plants of the family Potamogetonaceae. Most are known by the common name pondweed, although many unrelated plants may be called pondweed, such as Canadian pondweed. The genus name means "river neighbor", originating from the Greek potamos (river) and geiton (neighbor).

<i>Potamogeton natans</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton natans, commonly known as broad-leaved pondweed, floating pondweed, or floating-leaf pondweed, is an aquatic species in the genus Potamogeton native to quiet or slow-flowing freshwater habitats throughout the Holarctic Kingdom.

<i>Potamogeton perfoliatus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton perfoliatus is a perennial aquatic plant in the family Potamogetonaceae occurring in both standing and flowing freshwater habitats. It is widely distributed globally, occurring in all continents except South America and Antarctica.

<i>Potamogeton praelongus</i> Species of flowering plant

Potamogeton praelongus, commonly known as whitestem pondweed in North America and long-stalked pondweed in Britain, is a large, perennial aquatic plant in the family Potamogetonaceae. It is widely distributed in lakes and rivers in the northern hemisphere, but is sensitive to poor water quality.

<i>Myriophyllum verticillatum</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Haloragaceae

Myriophyllum verticillatum, the whorl-leaf watermilfoil or whorled water-milfoil, is a native to much of North America, North Africa, and Eurasia. It closely resembles another native milfoil, called northern water milfoil Whorled water milfoil is also easily confused with four types of invasive milfoils: Eurasian water milfoil, Variable water-milfoil, Parrot feather, and hybrid water milfoil.

<i>Potamogeton polygonifolius</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton polygonifolius or bog pondweed, is an aquatic plant. It is found in shallow, nutrient-poor, usually acid standing or running water, bogs, fens and occasionally ditches.

<i>Potamogeton coloratus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton coloratus, the fen pondweed, is an aquatic plant in the genus Potamogeton. It is found in shallow peaty calcareous lakes, ponds and ditches, commonly associated with lowland fens.

<i>Potamogeton lucens</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton lucens, or shining pondweed, is an aquatic perennial plant native to Eurasia and North Africa. It grows in relatively deep, still or slow-flowing, calcareous freshwater habitats.

<i>Potamogeton alpinus</i> Species of flowering plant

Potamogeton alpinus is a species of perennial aquatic plant known by the common names alpine pondweed and red pondweed. It is widespread in the northern hemisphere in both rivers and lakes with good water quality.

<i>Potamogeton diversifolius</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton diversifolius is a species of aquatic plant known by the common names waterthread pondweed and diverse-leaved pondweed. It is native to most of the United States, as well as sections of southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico, where it grows in water bodies such as ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow-moving streams. This is a perennial herb producing a very narrow, compressed stem branching to a maximum length around 35 centimeters. It has thin, pointed linear leaves a few centimeters long spirally arranged about the thin stem. The inflorescence is a small spike of flowers emerging from the water surface. Inflorescences also grow on submersed sections of the stem; these are smaller and spherical. It can be difficult to distinguish from similar species of pondweed.

<i>Potamogeton epihydrus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton epihydrus is a perennial aquatic plant known by the common names ribbonleaf pondweed and Nuttall's pondweed, and American pondweed in the United Kingdom. It is native to much of North America, where it grows in water bodies such as ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow-moving streams.

<i>Potamogeton foliosus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton foliosus is a species of aquatic plant known by the common name leafy pondweed. It is native to nearly all of North America and parts of Central America, where it grows in water bodies such as ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow-moving streams. It has been reported from every state in the United States except Hawaii as well as from every Canadian province and territory except Newfoundland and Nunavut.

<i>Potamogeton gramineus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton gramineus is a species of aquatic plant known by the common name various-leaved pondweed, variableleaf pondweed, grass-leaved pondweed or grassy pondweed, native to the northern hemisphere where it grows in shallow, clean water.

<i>Potamogeton pusillus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton pusillus is a species of aquatic plant known by the common names small pondweed, lesser pondweed or least pondweed. It occurs in standing and slow-flowing freshwater habitats throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

<i>Potamogeton compressus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton compressus is a species of aquatic plant known by the common names grass-wrack pondweed, flatstem pondweed and eel-grass pondweed.

<i>Potamogeton obtusifolius</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton obtusifolius, known as blunt-leaved pondweed, is an aquatic plant in the genus Potamogeton. It grows mainly in mesotrophic to eutrophic lakes, ponds and ditches, rarely in brackish water. It occurs primarily in Central Europe, the British Isles, Fennoscandia and eastern North America.

<i>Potamogeton berchtoldii</i> Species of plant

Potamogeton berchtoldii, common name small pondweed is an aquatic plant.

<i>Potamogeton acutifolius</i> Species of plant

Potamogeton acutifolius is a European species of aquatic plant in the family Potamogetonaceae, known by the common name sharp-leaved pondweed. It is threatened and declining in at least part of its range.

<i>Potamogeton trichoides</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton trichoides is a species of aquatic plant known by the common name hairlike pondweed, native to Europe and western Asia where it grows in calcareous, usually nutrient-rich standing or slow-flowing water.

<i>Potamogeton friesii</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton friesii, known as flat-stalked pondweed, or Fries' pondweed, is an aquatic plant in the genus Potamogeton. It grows mainly in mesotrophic to eutrophic rivers, lakes, ponds and ditches, rarely in brackish water. It occurs in North America, Europe, western Asia and a few scattered locations elsewhere in Asia.

References

  1. "Potamogeton crispus L." The World Flora Online. 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 Hellquist, C. Barre; Thorne, Robert F.; Haynes, Robert R. (2012). Jepson Flora Project (ed.). "Potamogeton crispus". Jepson eFlora. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 Knoke, Don; Giblin, David (2022). "Potamogeton crispus". Burke Herbarium Image Collection. Burke Museum, University of Washington. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 Preston C. D. (1995) Pondweeds of Great Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook No. 8. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London.
  5. Rose, Francis (2006). The Wild Flower Key. Frederick Warne & Co. pp. 491–492. ISBN   978-0-7232-5175-0.
  6. Flora of North America
  7. The Plant List: Potamogeton crispus. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanic Gardens. Accessed November 18, 2014
  8. 1 2 3 Guo Y., Haynes R. R., Hellquist C. B., Kaplan Z. 2010. Potamogeton. Flora of China, 23, 108-114. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=10726 Accessed July 28, 2022
  9. 1 2 3 4 Thayer, D.D.; Pfingsten, I.A.; Cao, L.; Berent, L. (18 March 2016). "Potamogeton crispus (curly-leaf pondweed)". U.S. Geological Survey Nonindigenous Aquatic Species, Gainesville, FL. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  10. 1 2 Mikulyuk, Alison; Nault, Michelle (19 March 2020). "Potamogeton crispus (curlyleaf pondweed)". Invasive Species Compendium. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International. Retrieved 28 July 2022.