Leafy elodea: declared pest

Page last updated: Friday, 4 October 2019 - 5:42pm

Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review.

Leafy elodea (Egeria densa) is a declared pest in Western Australia (WA). This article describes the nature of the plant with links to requirements land owners/occupiers must adhere to and pest control methods.

Form: aquatic — perennial

Status: present in WA

Appearance

A submerged, much branched perennial freshwater aquatic herb usually rooted in the bottom mud. Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. Female plants have not been recorded in Australia; all reproduction is vegetative.

Stems: Green to brown, slender, much branched three to five metres long, 2-2.5 millimetres wide.

Leaves: Attached direct to stem (no stalks), edged with fine forward pointing teeth. Lower leaves opposite, upper leaves in whorls of three to seven, strap-like and tapering to a point; 1.5-3 centimetres long and three to five millimetres wide.

Flowers: White formed in the axils of the upper leaves, and carried to the surface on a thread-like stem. Male flowers in groups of two to four.

Fruit: Cylindrical, seven to eight millimetres long, three millimetres diameter.

Agricultural and economic impact

An environmental water weed.

Declared pest category

The Western Australian Organism List (WAOL) contains information on the area(s) in which this pest is declared and the control and keeping categories to which it has been assigned in Western Australia (WA). Search for leafy elodea in the WAOL using the scientific name Egeria densa.

Requirements for land owners/occupiers and other persons

Requirements for land owners/occupiers and other persons if this pest is found can be sourced through the declared plant requirements link.

Search > detect > report

MyPestGuide™ Reporter
via app or online
(Select 'Send report to MyWeedWatcher' from menu)
mypestguide.agric.wa.gov.au

Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)
+61 (0)8 9368 3080
padis@dpird.wa.gov.au

Control method

Control methods for this declared plant can be found through the leafy elodea control link.

Contact information

Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)
+61 (0)8 9368 3080
Technical support - MyPestGuide®