Southern
Naiad - Najas guadalupensis
Family: Najadaceae
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Description
Plants of N. guadalupensis are rooted, submersed, and from 0.1
to 1.0 m long. The leaves are usually opposite or subopposite, from 0.2
to 2.0 mm wide, and 0.3 to 3.3 cm long. The teeth along the leaf margin
are small, 18 to 100 per side, and barely visible to the naked eye. Sheaths
at the base of the leaf are rounded to slightly auriculate. The flowers
are small, inconspicuous and borne in the leaf axils on the same plant.
Seeds are 1.2 to 3.8 mm long, fusiform, with 4- to 6-angled areolae arranged
in 20 to 60 rows.
Interesting facts
Southern naiad is found in marshes, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, rivers,
streams, canals, and occasionally in slightly brackish water. It is typically
a shallow water species that can form dense monospecific colonies or is
often found in association with other submersed aquatics such as spinyleaf
naiad, pondweeds, and muskgrass. Like spinyleaf naiad, reservoir populations
of southern naiad may fluctuate dramatically over a period of a few years
in response to changes in the amount of available light (Peltier and Welch
1970). Southern naiad seems to be more tolerant of turbidity, warming
of water temperatures, and eutrophication than some of the other native
species of Najas and has spread in some regions of the United States over
the past century (Wentz and Stuckey 1971).
Najas guadalupensis can form dense colonies in shallow water
and hinder swimming, fishing, boating, and other forms of water contact
recreation. It is a major problem species in Florida and is reported to
impede water flow in drainage and irrigation canals (Tarver et al. 1986).
However, the plant is a valuable waterfowl food and can provide habitat
and substrate of fish and invertebrates (Tarver et al. 1986, Brooks and
Hauser 1978).
Links to more information
Website, video, and graphics by Rob Nelson
For more information on this plant or management please contact US Army Corp of Engineers
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