Egeria densa (Dense water weed)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) >  Monocotyledons >  Order: Alismatales >  Family: Hydrocharitaceae

Egeria densa growing in fish pond of Company Gardens, Cape Town. [photo H. Robertson, Iziko ©]

Close-up of Egeria densa flower (c 15 mm wide). [photo H. Robertson, Iziko ©]

Egeria densa is native to South America and is grown in aquaria and outdoor ponds. It has been recorded from a dam and river in southern Africa, suggesting that it is becoming naturalised in this region. As a precautionary measure it has been made a declared Category 1 invasive plant in South Africa.