Eurasian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum, Sp. Pl.: 992 (1753))

Family: Haloragaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 992 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Myriophyllum

Vegetable: False

Observations: Temp. Old World to Trop. Mts., Aleutian Is.

Description

Eurasian water-milfoil, known scientifically as Myriophyllum spicatum, is an aquatic plant species recognized for its wide distribution and invasive nature. First described in Sp. Pl. in 1753 by author L., this plant belongs to the Haloragaceae family.

Commonly found in the temperate regions of the Old World and extending into the tropical mountains and Aleutian Islands, Eurasian water-milfoil thrives in various aquatic environments. It predominantly grows in freshwater regions such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, where it can form dense underwater mats. These mats often interfere with recreational water activities, impede water flow, and negatively impact native aquatic ecosystems.

The plant is identifiable by its feathery, whorled leaves which can easily fragment and give rise to new plants. This vegetative reproduction method, along with the dispersal of stem fragments by boats and water currents, explains the plant’s prolific spread.

Control and management of Myriophyllum spicatum are challenges faced by aquatic ecologists and environmental managers, as its aggressive growth can lead to significant ecological and economic impacts. Ongoing research focuses on both mechanical and biological methods to control the spread of this resilient aquatic species.

Common Names

Dan: aks-tusindblad
Nor: akstusenblad
Eng: eurasian water-milfoil, eurasian watermilfoil, spike water-milfoil, spike watermilfoil, spiked water milfoil, spiked water-milfoil, eurasian spiked water-milfoil, eurasian water milfoil, spiked water-millfoil
Spa: filigrana de agua
Nld: aarvederkruid
Swe: axslinga
Fra: myriophylle en epi, myriophylle en épi, myriophylle à épis
Deu: ähriges tausendblatt
Sme: geahčesuovvi
Cym: myrdd-ddail tywysennaidd, myrdd-ddail ysbigog, myrddail twysog, myrddail tywysennaidd, myrddail y dŵr
Ara: zoo el-alf waraka
Nob: akstusenblad
Nno: akstusenblad
Gla: líonánach
Pol: wywłócznik kłosowy
Kat: ფრთაფოთოლა
En: Eurasian water-milfoil, Spike water-milfoil, Eurasian watermilfoil, Spike watermilfoil, Spiked water-milfoil, Spiked water milfoil, Eurasian Water Milfoil, Eurasian spiked water-milfoil, Spiked water-millfoil, Water Milfoil, Myriophylle en epi, Spiked watermilfoil
Ar: Zoo El-Alf Waraka
Ca: Milfulles d’aigua, Volantí espigat
Da: Aks-tusindblad
Nl: Aarvederkruid
Fi: Tähkä-ärviä
Fr: Myriophylle en épi, Myriophylle en epi, Myriophylle à épis, Volant à fleurs en épi, Myriophylle en épis, Water-milfoil
Ka: Ფრთაფოთოლა
De: Ähren-Tausendblatt, Ähriges Tausendblatt, Tausendblatt
He: אלף-עלה משובל
It: Millefoglio d’acqua comune
Se: Geahčesuovvi
No: Akstusenblad
Nb: Akstusenblad
Nn: Akstusenblad
Pl: Wywłócznik kłosowy
Pt: Pinheirinha-da-água
Gd: Líonánach
Es: Filigrana de agua
Sv: Axslinga
Cy: Myrdd-Ddail Tywysennaidd, Myrdd-Ddail Ysbigog, Myrddail Twysog, Myrddail Tywysennaidd, Myrddail y Dŵr

Synonyms

• Myriophyllum spicatum var. majus (Hartm.)
• Myriophyllum spicatum var. tenellum (Hartm.)
• Myriophyllum pusillum (Blume)
• Myriophyllum spicatum var. minus (Gray)
• Myriophyllum verticillatum subsp. spicatum ((L.) Bonnier & Layens)
• Myriophyllum spicatum var. baicalense (Czepinoga)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Aleutian Is. (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Free State (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hainan (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Alaska (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Dakota (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Jul 5, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2022 by Radoslav Marinkovic (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Feb 16, 2022 by Beate Liebold (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2020 by Daniel Bourget (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 28, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 10, 2022 by Aurelio Cabri (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 6, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Sep 14, 2014 by EOL − Zoya Akulova (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 9, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 29, 2019 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 3, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Benjamin SUZE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Aug 9, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Sep 15, 2011 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2003 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jul 31, 1852 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 1877 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Daniel MATHIEU (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5361760)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:430465-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Myriophyllum spicatum L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 7.5

Light: 6

Atmospheric humidity: 9

Bloom months: [‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]

Soil nutriments: 7