Limnocharis

• This anchored aquatic herbaceous plant has roots growing in mud/soil, not floating.
• Plants grow up to 1m in height. They have erect stems and leaf blades.
• Leaves are pale green and velvety. They grow up to 28cm long and 20cm wide, and have 11–15 parallel veins.
• Leaf blade shape varies with age—narrow when young then more oval as the plant ages.
• The triangular stem is a key identification feature (most aquatic plant stems are round). It can be up to 85cm long.
• Yellow 3-petalled flowers are produced on stalks.
• After flowering, spherical fruit (capsules) are produced on stalks. Each capsule is made up of 12–18 crescent-shaped segments called follicles.
• Each follicle may contain up to 115 small brown seeds (up to 1,000 seeds per fruit).
• Follicles and mature intact fruit capsules are buoyant.

• Grows in saturated, fertile and muddy conditions
• Grows as a perennial plant in areas with a lot of moisture

• Visit Weeds Australia and click on the distribution tab to access the distribution map.

• Can flower year-round
• Reproduces by seed and vegetatively from plantlets
• Can produce mature fruit in as little as 46 days
• After producing capsules, flowering stalks bend towards the water and can produce vegetative plantlets. Once plantlets form roots in mud, they become independent plants

Environmental

• Colonises shallow wetlands and margins of deeper waterways
• Displaces native plants and animals
• Restricts water flow and traps silt

Social

• Restricts human and livestock access to water
• Provides breeding areas for mosquitoes

• Seeds are spread by running water, waterbirds and other animals.
• Plantlets are spread in mud that sticks to vehicles, machinery and footwear.
• Plants are spread by gardeners for ornamental or cultivation purposes.
• Plants and seeds are spread through illegal importation/sales

• Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
• Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.

Contact us online, by phone or in person if you find a plant you suspect may be limnocharis. We will provide advice on control.

Herbicide control

• No herbicides are registered to specifically control limnocharis.

Biological control

• There are no known biological control agents.

• Limnocharis is a category 2, 3, 4 and 5 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• You must not keep, move, give away or sell limnocharis, or release it into the environment. Penalties may apply.
• You must report all sightings within 24 hours.
• You must take all reasonable and practical measures under your control to minimise the biosecurity risks associated with dealing with limnocharis. This is called your general biosecurity obligation (GBO).
• Each local government must have a biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants and animals in its area. This plan may include actions to be taken on limnocharis. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local council for more information.