Water-milfoils & Mermaidweeds
What are they?
These are wetland plants that either grow in swampy ground (mermaidweeds) or even as an emergent or submerged aquatic (water-milfoils).
Where are they found?
Look for these species in permanently damp areas around lakes and other freshwater waterways. Most of the water-milfoils grow as subaquatics so may only be noticed when their flower spikes emerge above the water surface.
Identification
The mermaidweeds can be identified by their leaves, as can some of the water-milfoils, though close attention to the flowers can be required with the water-milfoils too.
Low Water-milfoil Myriophyllum humile
An aquatic plant of well-vegetated ponds. Flowers May to October.
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Pinnate Water-milfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
An aquatic plant of muddy ponds and ditches. Flowers June to September.
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Parrot's-feather Myriophyllum aquaticum
A notoriously invasive species that originates from Brazil but is now widespread around the world, largely thanks to people who dump it out from tropical fish tanks. This species has recently been introduced to Lake Lily at Cape May Point and will probably become dominant there, to the detriment of many native plant species. Flowers mostly June to August, though often doesn't flower in cooler latitudes.
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Marsh Mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
A rather insignificant and thus easily overlooked plant, though it can occur in great quantity in marshy habitats, such as at Cape May Point State Park where it carpets the ground in places. Flowers June to September.
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Comb-leaved Mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
A small, unassuming plant of wet, muddy places. Flowers June to September. The comb-like leaves resemble those of the water-milfoils, but this is a plant of muddy ground rather than a true aquatic.
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