Spotlight Species #1: Alligator Weed
Spotlight Species #1:
Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
What to Look For:
The plants typically form into dense mats along the shoreline. The leaves are opposite, lance-shaped, about 1-2 inches long, with a distinct midrib (a vein that runs from stem to tip). The stems are hollow to provide buoyancy. The plant also produces a small white clover-like flower throughout the summer.
Where to Find It:
Alligatorweed likes to grow in wet or moist conditions throughout the coastal plain of the Carolinas. It forms a dense mat in the water. You may find it at boat ramps as it tends to be transported on boats.
Why It Is a Spotlight Species:
Alligator weed is an invasive species from South America. When not managed, the infestations can cause damage to our watershed including causing flooding, erosion, and navigation hazards.
Boaters can help prevent the spread of alligator weed by cleaning their boats of any vegetation when traveling between water bodies.
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