Twoleaf waterweed
Elodea bifoliata · Aquatic plants
Up close · Photo: Kallum McDonald / CC0
Also called Twoleaf elodea
How to identify Twoleaf waterweed
- Leaves mostly in pairs rather than whorls of 3
- Long, narrow, pointed leaves up to about 1 inch
- Male flowers stay attached to the plant
Similar plants
Western waterweed and elodea have leaves mostly in whorls of 3.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Grows from late spring through summer and dies back in fall. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | No published figure; grows as water warms in late spring |
| Light | Prefers clear, shallow water |
| Depth | 1 to 6 feet |
| How it spreads | Stem fragments and seeds |
| Habitat | Ponds, shallow lakes and slow streams, often in alkaline water of the interior West. |
Why it matters in a lake
An uncommon native mostly in the drier interior. Rarely a nuisance.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Rare
- Oregon: Rare
- Wyoming: Occasional
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Alismatales |
| Family | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Scientific name | Elodea bifoliata |
Eurasian watermilfoil
Curly leaf pondweed
Brazilian elodea
Coontail
Elodea
Sago pondweed
Leafy pondweed
Common bladderwort
White water buttercup
Slender naiadNeed a hand?
Is it taking over your lake?
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