This plant has been growing around a pond we manage for a while now. It appears to be impervious to typical emergent treatment strategies. At one point last year we raked it all out but here it is again. It is almost leafless and is rooted in the bank similar to alligator weed. The stems are spongy and it is easily pulled out. Any help?
Kelly is this a beneficial type of vegetation meaning it will remain on the shallow margins of the pond, or is it invasive and do you recommend treatment? From the looks of Brian's photos it appears to be keeping itself in check...but I understand that can change in a hurry.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Personally, I rarely fields complaints that concern bacopa - except in some urban amenity/community ponds where virtually any vegetation is considered taboo (unsightly and/or snake-magnets). I've also never treated bacopa, but suspect that it would respond to glyphosate, imazapyr or 2,4-D; if deemed necessary. A good surfactant must accompany any topically applied herbicides. @Brian: the sparce amount of leaf-structure (herbicide entry-points) on the photographed specimens may be partially to blame for your lack-luster treatment responses. Imazapyr+MSO surfactant would be my first choice for treating bacopa, assuming irrigation-restrictions don't pose an issue.
Thanks for the ID Kelly. It doesn't seem to be spreading much and the residents aren't complaining at this time, although I have experience with communities who want swimming pools instead of ponds. I've tried the glyphosate/surfactant route and it doesn't seem to phase it much. I'll try some imazapyr and see how it goes. Thanks again!