Photographs: Co. Cork

Parrot's-feather Myriophyllum aquaticum Family: Haloragaceae Aquatic/semi-aquatic perennial. Introduced. Very tiny pinkish flowers in leaf axils of the feathery green leaves. Sprawling reddish stems, submerged and rising above water level. Very rapid growth, rooting easily in mud and in water depths of several metres A garden escape originally sold as a pond oxygenator and marginal plant now spreading into streams and lakes and can choke slow-moving waterways. Designated a significant invasive plant in Ireland. Similar: Spiked Water-milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum. Native.

Parrot's-feather, Myriophyllum aquaticum