East Indian hygrophila

Family: Acanthaceae
Scientific name: Hygrophila polysperma
Description: Plant Form Low growing aquatic or emergent herb. Size Up to 1 m tall. Stem Round and up to 2 m long when underwater. Square and slightly hairy when above water. Leaves Bright green, brown or reddish. Up to 8 cm long. Oblong or oval shaped with pointy tips, and with a thin cover of fine white hairs. Long and narrower underwater, rounder above water. Flowers White or bluish-white, tubular with 5 fused petals. About 5 mm across. In between stems and leaves of upper stems. Fruit and Seeds Narrow capsule about 6 mm long which splits along length to release 15-30 seeds which are covered in hairs. Habitat Lakes, dams, ponds, wetlands. Distinguishing Features Can be confused with native Willow hygro (Hygrophila angustifolia) but differs mainly by growing while submerged. Weed Status: Priority Weed Weed Type: Environmental, Agricultural, Common Lifeform: Aquatic, Herbaceous

Example images for this weed