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Myriophyllum spicatum 

Scope: Pan-Africa
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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Haloragales Haloragaceae

Scientific Name: Myriophyllum spicatum
Species Authority: L.
Regional Assessments:
Common Name(s):
English – Spiked Water-milfoil, Eurasian Water Milfoil
Synonym(s):
Myriophyllum montanum Martrin-Donos

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern (Regional assessment) ver 3.1
Year Published: 2010
Date Assessed: 2009-05-05
Assessor(s): Ghogue, J.-P.
Reviewer(s): Diop, F.N., Ali, M.M. & Smith, K.G.
Justification:
Widespread species with no known major widespread threats. Listed as Least Concern.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:Almost ubiquitous in the northern hemisphere; frequent in northern and southern Africa but rare in the tropics.

In Western Africa there is a poor occurrence of the species. Recorded only from Cameroon In North Africa it is introduced in Egypt, but native in Lybia, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. Also recorded from North Eastern Africa in Sudan (Widespread - Lake Nubia - Darfur, Jebel Murra), Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

In Southern Africa, it is found in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa (Limpopo, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape).
Countries occurrence:
Native:
Algeria; Botswana; Cameroon; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Libya; Malawi; Malaysia; Morocco; Namibia; South Africa; Sudan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Tunisia; Zambia; Zimbabwe
Additional data:
Range Map:Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:This species is a very common invasive aquatic macrophyte.
Current Population Trend:Stable
Additional data:
♦ Population severely fragmented:No

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:This Perennial Hydrophyte occurs submerged in permanent still and flowing water and even found in brackish conditions. M. spicatum occurs in lakes, rivers, streams, canals, ditches. It prefers alkaline (hard water) water systems with high dissolved inorganic carbon, nitrate, nitrite, and pH and in hydrosoil with high phosphat and organic matter contents.

North-eastern Africa: Lakes, rivers, streams, canal, ditches. M. spicatum occurs in alkaline (hard water) water systems with high dissolved inorganic carbon, nitrate, nitrite, and pH and in hydrosoil with high phosphatse and organic matter contents.
Systems:Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): There are no major threats to this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: Wetlands protection and conservation is generally recommended.
Citation: Ghogue, J.-P. 2010. Myriophyllum spicatum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T164481A5887638. . Downloaded on 30 September 2016.
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