Module 4 - parrot's feather

Parrot's Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum): Recognising Parrot's Feather

Parrots Feather is a floating water plant with a tough rhizome and feather-like leaves arranged around the stem.
It is found in freshwater lakes, ponds, streams and canals, particularly where nutrient levels are high.
It grows best when rooted in shallow water but also occurs as a floating plant in deeper water.

Parrot's Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum): From introduction to invasion:

Parrots Feather comes from South America and was brought to South Africa as an aquarium and fish pond plant.
It is an aggressive invader, especially in water bodies with high levels of nutrients.
Male and female plants are separate. Outside of South America only female plants exist, so only vegetative reproduction occurs.
Parrots Feather spreads when pieces of the tough rhizome break off, take root and grow.
Very few animals eat Parrots Feather because it contains high levels of unpleasant-tasting tannin.
The impacts of Parrots Feather are similar to those of Water Hyacinth.

Parrot's Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum): Controlling Parrot's Feather

To control Parrots Feather it is important to reduce nutrients entering water courses, as well as to remove the invasive weeds.
It is not a good idea to use harvesting methods that cut up the plants, as small pieces of rhizome will grow and spread.
It is difficult to use herbicide to control Parrots Feather. The stems and leaves have a thick waxy cuticle that resists the herbicide.
A beetle (Lysathia sp.) has been released as the biological control agent to control populations of Parrots Feather in South Africa.

Parrots Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)