Family: Hydrocharitaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Grows in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized in California, Australia, Japan and possibly elsewhere
  
• An environmental weed
  
• Limnobium spongia also invasive
  
• Can form dense stands in aquatic systems and impede the flow of water
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively
  
• Seeds and vegetative fragments dispersed by water, stuck to boats and animals, intentionally by people, and internally by animals
  
• Seeds persist for 4 or more years
  
• Mechanical damage and control efforts can contribute to spread of viable vegetative fragments

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Ornamental
  
• Several herbicides provide effective control