BlueStemLakeHomeowners.org - Alligator Weed
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Updated: Thursday, September 16, 2004 9:15 PM
Blue Stem Lake Homeowners Association, Inc. - Oklahoma City, OK
Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
 
Alligator Weed is an emersed plant. It can grow in a variety of habitats, including dry land, but is usually found in water. It may form sprawling mats over the water or along shorelines.
Alligator Weed stems are long, branched, and hollow.
Leaves are simple, elliptic, and have smooth margins. Leaves are opposite. The whitish papery flowers grow on stalks. Alligator weed flowers during the warm months
The BSL directors will be discussing this at the annual meeting Sept 28, 2004.
Listed as a "Species to Watch" for inclusion on the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife "List of declared noxious aquatic plant species". http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/aquaticplants.htm
The following email was received by Robert DeGraffenreid in response to his inquiry about this weed.

Robert,
The weeds you gave me are Alligator Weed .  This is a non-native aquatic plant that has only been identified in Oklahoma in one other spot - a backwater of the uppermost pool of the Arkansas River Navigation System.  Most likely yours was an escapee (accidental or intentional) from someone's water garden.  It is an invasive species that can become a real problem by covering the shoreline, crowding and shading out beneficial submersed species.  Go to http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/alphpic.html  for more info. What to do?  That's up to you and your neighbors.  It is not illegal to have this plant, but it has the potential to be a problem weed if it goes unchecked.  It sounded like it had spread quite a bit in one year's time.  As far as I know, this is as far north as this plant has been identified.  It could be that the winter will knock it back and keep it from becoming a nuisance.  Then again, maybe not.  Control for emergent aquatics is with Rodeo or Pondmaster (glyphosate formulated and approved by EPA for aquatic use) at a rate of 2 oz./gal spray with a non-ionic surfactant such as Cide-Kick or AquaKing.  Well-established stands may require a second treatment in 2-3 weeks.  Rodeo is a contact herbicide and only the plants you spray will be killed.  So if you want to control, but not eliminate these plants, you can do so by controlled herbicide application.  Be careful of spray drift since Rodeo will kill any and all other vegetation it touches. If you have a digital camera and could take some photos of the colony on your lake and E-mail them to me, I'd appreciate it. Call or E-mail if you have other questions.
Gene Gilliland
Senior Fishery Biologist
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Oklahoma Fishery Research Lab

More Alligator Weed Information Links
http://www.invasivespecies.gov/council/actiond.shtml Federal efforts concerning invasive species  
     

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