Hi!

I have owned my property in Massachusetts for 25 years, and there is a small natural pond at the back of my house.

A brand new plant arrived this year, and I have been unable to identify it from any of the online resources I have scoured.

It seems to be free floating, and rapidly multiplying.

I took the attached picture from a distance, and I know it is not great, but none of the plants were close enough to shore to grab.

I will try to get my hands on one from my kayak if this pic is useless to everyone.

Thank you in advance!

Lisa

Duckweed?

http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/alphabetical-index/common-duckweed/

Yes, there is duckweed . . . that arrived last year.

I am trying to identify the multi-stem upright plant in the center of the pic (I know the pic is rough)

It could be American water willow. Hard to tell, yours is young.

I have better photos now, as I managed to get my hands on one of these devils!

Lisa: Bill Cody sent your link my direction, and it immediately stumped me. I've never seen such a plant! When (exactly) did you first notice it's presence - and do you have any idea of its origin?
I've submitted a composite photo of your plant (linked below) to a well versed PhD at Texas A&M. Although I'm certain that your plant isn't found in our parts, the fellow at A&M is "well traveled" and may be able to offer an ID. I'll keep you posted if and when I hear back from him.
MA Aquatic Plant

Glad I wasn't the only one that was stumped. Another possible contact might be the MA professor who supervised the project in this link.


http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Aquatic_Plants_Fishman_Kelly_Hankin/Pages/Homepage.html


Did not see it in here either.

https://archive.org/details/guidetoaquaticpl00kell

Wow!

I am very grateful for your interest in this specimen! As I mentioned, I have owned this property for over 20 years. I have neglected the pond over the last few years due to illness, and sure enough it has suffered because of it.

The duck weed showed up two years ago, and this mystery plant arrived this year (a couple of months ago perhaps). I am a bit alarmed as there are a LOT of them. They are already filling in one side of the pond. I want to get rid of them, as they don't belong here! Please tell me that it is not some darn endangered species!

My health is better this year, so I have been out trying regain the pond (the muck is biblical). Now I am thinking the muck is not my biggest problem.

Thanks for confirming I am not crazy! I do not see anything close in those resources either.

I thought this would be so simple . . . Identify it, find the correct compound to eradicate it . . . not happening!

Well, I learned about a new aquatic plant species today...
My friend at Texas A&M University (btw; one of the top schools in the nation, although I might be slightly biased ) solved this mystery.
It's American featherfoil; PLUS he indicated that it is also found in parts of Northeast and Deep East Texas - which is a big surprise to me since I've never encountered it.
"American featherfoil is native to...

Thanks Kelly! I learn something new all the time on Pond Boss.

Kelly, just be glad that you haven't run into Starry Stonewort
(Nitellopsis obtusa L.)

online it seems to be a desirable or almost 'protected' plant. Does it become a nuisance or control problem?

WOW . . . You are all amazing! Thank you so much! I never would have figured this out without your efforts!

I apologize for the delay in replying, I was detoured by a surgeon.

I have decided to allow some co-existence with this plant after reading up on it.

There is a corner of the pond which forms a sort of lagoon. I will let the plant hang out there.

This means manual removal from other areas, but I think I can do it as the pond is small.

I just find it so strange that after 26 years this little devil just "arrived". Perhaps one of the visiting mallards delivered it?

Now to address my bigger problem . . . muck!