alligatorweed |
Plants: Aquatic |
|
Magnoliopsida > Caryophyllales > Amaranthaceae > Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.
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| Synonym(s): alligator weed, pig weed |
| Alligatorweed is an emergent or rooted floating plant that invades aquatic areas and adjoining uplands throughout the southern portions of the United States. Plants have hollow stems and can grow to 3 ft. (1 m) tall. Opposite, elliptical leaves are thick but non-succulent and are up to 4 in. (10 cm) long. Flowering occurs during the summer with white, clover-like heads in the axils of the leaves. Alligatorweed roots in wet soils or shallow water and grows out into waterways. Alligatorweed can also grow terrestrially, forming smaller, tougher leaves. The thick mats can displace native vegetation and wildlife habitat, clog waterways, restrict oxygen levels of water, increase sedimentation, interfere with irrigation and prevent drainage. Alligatorweed is native to South America and was first introduced into the United States around 1900 in ballast water. |
| Image |
Descriptor |
Description |
Photographer |
| 5306061 |
Diagram or Graphic |
USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. |
USDA PLANTS Database |
| 4723003 |
Flower(s) |
the white flowers are arranged in stalked, short, headlike spikes, and have a style |
Gary Buckingham |
| 5225062 |
Flower(s) |
|
Richard Old |
| 5400224 |
Flower(s) |
|
Graves Lovell |
| 5400225 |
Flower(s) |
|
Graves Lovell |
| 5406394 |
Flower(s) |
foliage |
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 5406395 |
Flower(s) |
foliage |
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 5406396 |
Flower(s) |
foliage |
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 1391180 |
Flower(s) |
|
John D. Byrd |
| 1539023 |
Flower(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 1539024 |
Flower(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 1391183 |
Flower(s) |
|
John D. Byrd |
| 2117076 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117077 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117088 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117089 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117093 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117095 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117073 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117074 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1539028 |
Foliage |
|
James H. Miller |
| 5376307 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Julia Scher |
| 5379488 |
Infestation |
|
James H. Miller |
| 5379489 |
Infestation |
|
James H. Miller |
| 5379490 |
Infestation |
Alligator weed and pampasgrass (Cortaderia jubata) infestation. |
James H. Miller |
| 5379491 |
Infestation |
Alligator weed and pampasgrass (Cortaderia jubata) infestation. |
James H. Miller |
| 2132019 |
Infestation |
|
James H. Miller |
| 2188019 |
Infestation |
Along with parrotfeather milfoil |
Chris Evans |
| 5391852 |
Infestation |
In a canal |
John M. Randall |
| 5391853 |
Infestation |
Where's the beach? |
John M. Randall |
| 5400223 |
Infestation |
|
Graves Lovell |
| 1539025 |
Infestation |
|
James H. Miller |
| 1116005 |
Infestation |
|
Charles T. Bryson |
| 2117075 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117084 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117085 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117087 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117080 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117081 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117094 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 4723001 |
|
mats grow from shore and often cover entire waterways thereby disrupting water flow and causing flooding. |
Gary Buckingham |
| 4723002 |
Plant(s) |
has opposite, non-succulent leaves |
USDA ARS Archive |
| 2132020 |
Plant(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 2155001 |
Plant(s) |
|
John D. Byrd |
| 5400220 |
Plant(s) |
|
Graves Lovell |
| 5400221 |
Plant(s) |
|
Graves Lovell |
| 5400222 |
Plant(s) |
|
Graves Lovell |
| 5379492 |
Plant(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 5379493 |
Plant(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 5391851 |
Plant(s) |
Leafy menace |
John M. Randall |
| 5225063 |
Plant(s) |
in flower |
Richard Old |
| 5400226 |
Plant(s) |
|
Graves Lovell |
| 5400227 |
Plant(s) |
|
Graves Lovell |
| 2117096 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2131098 |
Plant(s) |
in flower |
Chris Evans |
| 2117090 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117091 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117082 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117083 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1391119 |
Plant(s) |
|
John D. Byrd |
| 1391120 |
Plant(s) |
|
John D. Byrd |
| 1391181 |
Plant(s) |
|
John D. Byrd |
| 1391182 |
Plant(s) |
|
John D. Byrd |
| 1539026 |
Plant(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 1539027 |
Plant(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 1539029 |
Plant(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 1539030 |
Plant(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 1539022 |
Plant(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 2117078 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2117079 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5379494 |
Stem(s) |
upright stem |
James H. Miller |
|
