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Invasive Weeds - Floating Pennywort

The Weed
Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) is a native of North America and was brough to Britain in the 1980’s as a plant for tropical aquaria and garden ponds and first identified in the wild in Essex.

The plant grows in shallow water margins of slow-flowing, nutrient rich water such as ditches, slow-flowing dykes, pond and lakes. The roots of the plant are profuse and hair-like in appearance.

Click to enlarge

The leaves rise on stalks from fleshy, horizontal stems. The leaf shape ranges from circular to kidney shape and deeply lobed measuring up to 180 mm across.

The Problem
A dense, interwoven mat of vegetation quickly covers the surface of the water disrupting the ecology and amenity use of the area affected.

Maximum growth occurs in late summer when the mats can develop up to 15 metres from the bank in a single season with a stem growth rate of up to 20 cm per day. The rapid growth rate arises from its ability to re-grow from a single node and its resistance to certain chemicals.

The Solution
Effective control can be achieved by herbicide treatments but some chemicals are less effective so the correct selection is important.

Cutting and removal is a very good method of management but will not control or reduce the vigour of the plant. When cut the vegetation must be removed and deposited on the top of the bank, well away from the water.

As early detection is so important, a Goss aquatic weed specialist will provide immediate identification and advise suitable control treatments.

 
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