Practical
Plants

Myriophyllum spicatum

Water Milfoil

a perennial member of the Myriophyllum genus in the family Haloragidaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - raw or cooked[5]. Sweet and crunchy, the roots were a much relished food for several native North American Indian tribes[5].

Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is demulcent and febrifuge[3].

Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Febrifuge

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, Asia, N. Africa, N. America..
Habitat
Lakes, ponds, ditches etc, to 450 metres. Locally common, especially in calcareous waters[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information for this species but the seed is quite probably of limited germination, especially if it becomes dry, and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame if this is possible. Otherwise store the seed in a cool place in a jar of water and sow in the spring. Keep the pots in trays of water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the spring. Cuttings can be inserted directly into the soil of the pond at any time in the growing season[7]. Division.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a sandy medium, rich in decaying organic matter, in full sun[4]. Plants overwinter as resting buds at the bottom of the pond[1]. Another report says that the plants do not form winter buds, but persist at the bottom of the pond[7]. This species is considered to have the potential to be invasive when introduced into some areas such as Texas[6]. A good water oxygenator[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  3. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  5. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  7. Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-7158-0789-7

    ↩1↩2

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