Lagarosiphon major

Unwanted Organism, National Pest Plant Accord
• Scientific Name: Lagarosiphon major
• Origin: Introduced plant. Native to Africa
• Type: Weed
• Plant Life-form Type: Submerged
• Taxonomy: (Ridley) Moss ex Wager
• Presence: Widely naturalised in North Island and lowland northern and eastern South island, rare in Westland and upland South island, first record from Waiwhetu Stream, Wellington in 1950
• Habitat: Moderately fast flowing to still water bodies
• Temperature (°C): 15 - 25
• pH range: 6.0 - 8.0
• Hardness (ppm): 30 - 200
• Light: Medium
• Height: 2000mm
• Difficulty: Easy
• Notes: Major impacts on indigenous plant biodiversity and recreation. No longer allowed as a pond plant or in coldwater tanks. A pest plant. This is one of 4 plants sometimes sold as OXYGEN WEED. A big problem in lake Taupo and the Waikato river.
• Propagation: New plants develop from stem fragments. There is no seed production in New Zealand, with only the female plants of this species being present here
• Features: Leaves are alternate and curved downwards and 6-20 mm long. Stems are slender, brittle, and much branched.
• Source: TIFBIS
• Regional: Regional Pest Management Strategy: BOP*, OTA*, MWT, NSN/TAS, STL, AUK, CAN, HKB, MBH, TKI, WTC.