Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Balance of plants in the environment Eel Grass natural propagation

Last year I planted eel grass in an enclosure to protect it from grass carp & turtles. It is now solidly established. On the surface of the water in the cage was a lot of trash, short pieces of grass, leaves etc. Some of the trash was what looked like a fine curly roots perhaps with a seedhead on one end. I thought propagation was by rhizomes .

Are those curly root like pieces that float on the surface a means of propagation & dispersal? I tossed them in the water hoping they were. Does it happen all during the growing season or just in the spring?

Both by seeds and rhizomes.

JEC - "those curly root like pieces that float on the surface" are the flowers that will produce seeds. The seeds are fertile and a dispersal method. Did you plant the standard size eel grass or one of the shorter growing varieties (8"-16") such as V. nana, V.rubra, corkscrew, or twisted??

In the northern US eel grass produces those flowers once a year usually in late July - August. Keep us updated as the summer progresses about the duration of those flower buds in Florida.

Thank you for the detailed information.

I searched for information about these strands but found nothing specific. One end on some appears to be a flower or seed pod, although very tiny. It is the standard size eel grass. I once saw it in a lake not far away. The pond is severely deficient in places for fry & fingerlings to hide. I will report what I observe during the summer.

The seed pod on standard eel grass is noticeably larger compared to that of the varieties I mentioned. Standard eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) has mature seed pods 2"-4" long and at least 3/16" diameter on the end of the spiral stem.
see Figure 5 in the link
https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG437

After reading the articles, I am not completely sure that I have american eel grass. Perhaps what I see in mid summer will look like the photos in the article. What I have now maybe just the beginning development of the female flowers.

Thank you for your help. I will update this in late June