Potamogeton diversifolius

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Waterthread pondweed
Potamogeton diversifolius NRCS-1.jpg
Potamogeton diversifolius
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Potamogetonaceae
Genus: Potamogeton
Species:
P. diversifolius
Binomial name
Potamogeton diversifolius

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.

Contents

Description

Potamogeton diversifolius is a vascular aquatic plant that is sometimes known as waterthread pondweed or diverse-leaved pondweed. Some synonyms are Potamogetoncapillaceus var. atripes,Potamogetoncapillaceus and Potamogetondiversifolius var. multidenticulatus. [1] The plant has dimorphic leaves and is thread like. The leaves are both floating and submerged in water. The floating leaves tend to usually have 7-11 distinct veins, are elliptic and oval in outline. [1] They submerged leaves are alternating, smaller and only usually have 3 veins. Submersed leaves have stipules at the base of the leaf petiole that forms a sheath around the stem. [1] The plant is pale green is in total 0.78-2.5 inches long and 0.02-0.06 inches wide. The plant is a perennial with multi-branched stems extending between 40 and 80 cm long. [2] Stipules of the submersed leaves are fused at the base of the leaf blade and 4–10 mm long [3] The fruits are almost disk-shaped and tend to curve inward towards each other. [4] They also usually have lateral keels and are 0.9 to 2.0 mm in diameter. [5] Flowers range between 1-15 with spikes that are dimorphic. Seeds are formed in clusters. The clusters range from 1-15 and on the stalks of submersed leaves. The floating leaves have lindrical spikes that contain seeds ranging from 5-120 in the axils. [6] The plant blooms red with flowers and fruits throughout June to December. The waterthread pondweed has a stem that is horizontal, threadlike and cylindrical with the root branching off of that. Rooting occurs at the nodes of the plants. [7] The elliptical floating and submersed leaves and the distinctive veins help to distinguish the plant from other types of pondweeds. [1]

Taxonomy

The order of the plant is Alismatales, the family is Potamogetonaceae and the genus is Potamogen. The taxonomy of this plant has been debated for years and yet still is a confusing situation. It has been separated into two different species P. diversifolius in the strict sense and P.capillaceus (M, L. Fernald 1932). [8] Since then the species has also been divided into varieties, var. diversifolius and var. trichophyllus (D. S. Correl l and M. C. Johnston 1970). [8] The variety of trichophyllus has been found to be misapplied. We are now following E. J. Klekowski Jr. and E.O. Beal (1965) in only accepting one taxon. [8] Potamogetondiversifolious was found to be a subsection of the genus known as Hybridi. [9]

Uses

Potamogeton diversifolius is known to be used as food for at least approximately 124 animals. The plant provides a habitat for many micro- and macroinvertebrates. After the plant dies decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food invertebrates. [4] The seeds are eaten by waterfowl. Leaves are eaten by fish and invertebrates. Potamogetondiversifolius is known to be a host of aquatic fungi. [10] In a study on the food of game ducks it was recorded that 11.04% of their food was Potamogetondiversifolius within 247 locations in the United States and Canada. [11] The proportion of P. diversifolius in the diet of game ducks along the Atlantic coast was 11.73%, 13.29% in eastern region, 6.06% in Mississippi region, 3.99% at the gulf coast, 16.29% in western region, 12.14% in Pacific coast, 12.73% in western Canada and 12.47% in eastern Canada. [11]

Distribution

Potamogetondiversifolius can be found in shallow bodies of water including streams, ponds and shallow sections of the lakes. [12] This species is one of the most numerous and widely distributed pondweeds throughout the North America and can be found in 43 US States. This pondweed is in different types of still waters such as pools, ponds, lakes, and even some streams. [13] The plant is currently listed as invasive in Cuba. [14] Water thread pondweed can be found in fresh water. In an experiment involving fish predation scientists discovered that Potamogetondiversifolius was only found within fish free enclosures. [15] P. diversifolius occurs scattered throughout the United States except for the New England states. [11] In recent years the species has been found in newly excavated ditches that contain clay like soil. [11] The species has been found at elevations as high as 2744 m [16] Potamogetondiversifolius has been found in both full sunlight and partial shade. [16] Potamogetondiversifolius occurs in northern Mexico and in Cuba. [17]

Management

Herbarium Sheet of Potamogeton pusillus L. Potamogetom pusillus L.jpg
Herbarium Sheet of Potamogeton pusillus L.

This species is sensitive to water quality. [18] Potamogetondiversifolius requires both high water levels and sunlight. [19] There currently are no threats to this plant, the global conservation status rank of this species is G5. Dicchlobenil is one of the herbicides that has been proven to be effective in controlling pondweeds. [20] Water thread pond weed can be removed easily by scooping, raking or gathering it from the pond, but will regrow roots, fragments, and seeds. One way to reduce P. diversifolius growth in water is the application of non-toxic dyes to help reduce the amount of sunlight penetration in water. Water thread pondweed can be propagated by either seeds or transplanting of the roots during early spring into shallow, clear water. [21]

Related Research Articles

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

Potamogeton crispus, the crisp-leaved pondweed, curly pondweed, 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.

<i>Stuckenia pectinata</i> Species of aquatic plant

Stuckenia pectinata, commonly called sago pondweed or fennel pondweed, and sometimes called ribbon weed, is a cosmopolitan water plant species that grows in fresh and brackish water on all continents except Antarctica.

<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 amplifolius</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton amplifolius, commonly known as largeleaf pondweed or broad-leaved pondweed, is an aquatic plant of North America. It grows in water bodies such as lakes, ponds, and rivers, often in deep water.

<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>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 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 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 nodosus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton nodosus is a species of aquatic plant known by the common names longleaf pondweed and Loddon pondweed. It is native to Eurasia and the Americas, where it is widespread and can be found in water bodies such as ponds, lakes, ditches, and streams. This is a perennial herb producing a thin, branching stem easily exceeding a meter in maximum length. The leaves are linear to widely lance-shaped and up to 15 centimeters long by 4 wide. Both floating leaves and submerged leaves are borne on long petioles, a distinguishing characteristic. The inflorescence is a spike of many small flowers arising from the water on a peduncle.

<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.

Potamogeton clystocarpus is a rare species of flowering plant in the pondweed family known by the common name Little Aguja pondweed. It is endemic to Texas in the United States, where it is known only from one river canyon in Jeff Davis County. There is a single population of the aquatic plant in Little Aguja Creek, and it has never been seen anywhere else. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<i>Stuckenia vaginata</i> Species of aquatic plant

Stuckenia vaginata, commonly called sheathed pondweed, big sheathed pondweed or large-sheathed pondweed is a water plant species that grows in fresh and brackish water in Europe, Northern Asia and North America. Sheathed pondweed is rare, but is not in the 2012 IUCN Red List.

<i>Caltha natans</i> Species of flowering plant

Caltha natans is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family. It goes by the common name floating marsh marigold.

Potamogeton × griffithii is a hybrid pondweed between Potamogeton alpinus and Potamogeton praelongus. It occurs in oligotrophic, moderate alkalinity lakes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius Weed Profile - Weed Identification". weedid.cals.vt.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
  2. ↑ "Potamogeton diversifolius (waterthread pondweed)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  3. ↑ "Potamogeton diversifolius (waterthread pondweed)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  4. 1 2 "Waterthread Pondweed - AquaPlant: Management of Pond Plants & Algae". AquaPlant. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  5. ↑ Reznicek, A. A.; Bobbette, R. S. W. (1976). "The Taxonomy of Potamogeton Subsection Hybridi in North America". Rhodora. 78 (816): 650–673. ISSN   0035-4902. JSTOR   23313612.
  6. ↑ "Water-thread Pondweed (Potamogeton diversifolius) - Wisconsin DNR". dnr.wi.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  7. ↑ "Waterthread Pondweed - AquaPlant: Management of Pond Plants & Algae". AquaPlant. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
  8. 1 2 3 Committee, Flora of North America Editorial; Morin, Nancy R. (1993). Flora of North America: North of Mexico Volume 22: Magnoliophyta: Alismatidae, Arecidae, Commelinidae(in Part), and Zingiberidae. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN   978-0-19-513729-3.
  9. ↑ "New England Botanical Club Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Award". Rhodora. 122 (991). 2021-08-20. doi:10.3119/0035-4902-122.991.238. ISSN   0035-4902. S2CID   237245456.
  10. ↑ Mohamed 1-6.pdf (jsrr.net)
  11. 1 2 3 4 Martin, Alexander Campbell; Uhler, Francis Morey (1939). Food of Game Ducks in the United States and Canada. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  12. ↑ "| Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants | University of Florida, IFAS". plants.ifas.ufl.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  13. ↑ "Vascular Plants of North Carolina". auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  14. ↑ "Potamogeton diversifolius Raf". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
  15. ↑ Martin, T. H.; Crowder, L. B.; Dumas, C. F.; Burkholder, J. M. (1992-04-01). "Indirect effects of fish on macrophytes in Bays Mountain Lake: evidence for a littoral trophic cascade". Oecologia. 89 (4): 476–481. doi:10.1007/BF00317152. ISSN   1432-1939. PMID   28311876. S2CID   24770008.
  16. 1 2 Les, Donald H. (2020-05-10). Aquatic Monocotyledons of North America: Ecology, Life History, and Systematics. CRC Press. ISBN   978-1-351-67969-5.
  17. ↑ North American Flora. New York Botanical Garden. 1909.
  18. ↑ "Water-thread Pondweed (Potamogeton diversifolius) - Wisconsin DNR". dnr.wi.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  19. ↑ "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  20. ↑ Walker, Charles R. (October 1964). "Dichlobenil as a Herbicide in Fish Habitats". Weeds. 12 (4): 267–269. doi:10.2307/4040750. JSTOR   4040750.
  21. ↑ "How to Control Waterthread Pondweed - AquaPlant: Management of Pond Plants & Algae". AquaPlant. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
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