water chestnut |
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| Myrtales > Trapaceae > Trapa natans L.
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| Synonym(s): water nut |
Water chestnut is a rooted, floating plant that invades shallow to deep, fresh water habitats in the northeastern United States. Water chestnut can grow in 12 to 15 ft. (3.6-4.6 m) of water and forms dense, floating mats, often three layers deep. Leaves on the surface of the water are alternate, triangular in shape, strongly toothed and connected to the stem by an inflated petiole. Submerged leaves are feathery and either opposite or alternate. Flowering occurs from mid-summer to frost. Small, four-petaled flowers give way to the nut-like fruit. The fruit have two to four, 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) long, sharp, barbed spines. The spines can penetrate shoes. The dense, floating mats restrict light availability, reduce the oxygen content, and displace other emergent and floating vegetation. Water chestnut also limits boating, fishing, swimming and other recreational activities. Water chestnut is native to Europe and Asia and was first observed in the United States in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. |
Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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Selected Images from Invasive.org
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Plant(s);
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s);
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
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Fruit(s);
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
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Fruit(s);
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
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Feature(s); single rosette showing horned fruits and the inflated leaf petioles which enables the rosette to float
Alfred Cofrancesco, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s); Floating rosettes
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
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Infestation; on Lake Champlain, New York
Alfred Cofrancesco, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bugwood.org
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Infestation;
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
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Fruit(s);
Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
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Diagram or Graphic; Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 612.
USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
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Invasive Reference(s):
Check Invasive.org for most current lists.
- Alabama - Noxious Weed Law
- Arizona - Noxious Weed Law
- Maine - Noxious Weed Law
- Massachusetts - Noxious Weed Law
- North Carolina - Noxious Weed Law
- Oregon - Noxious Weed Law
- South Carolina - Noxious Weed Law
- Vermont - Noxious Weed Law
- Virginia - Invasive Alien Plant Species
- Washington - Noxious Weed Law
- Mid-Atlantic - EPPC List
- Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
External Links
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