Myriophyllum variifolium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Myriophyllum variifolium |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Myriophyllum
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| Species: |
variifolium
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Myriophyllum variifolium is a type of water milfoil. It's a plant that lives in water. You can find it in eastern Australia. It often grows in places like ponds and streams.
Contents
About Myriophyllum variifolium
This plant was first described in 1840. A scientist named Joseph Dalton Hooker studied it. He found samples in the Lachlan River and Tasmania. The Tasmanian plants matched his description best. So, those plants became the main example for the species.
Where It Lives
Myriophyllum variifolium grows in many parts of Australia. You can find it in southeastern South Australia and western Victoria. It also grows across eastern Victoria and New South Wales. It reaches into southeastern Queensland. This plant also lives in central and eastern Tasmania. It prefers shallow water that is still or moves slowly. It can grow in water from about 30 centimetres (1 foot) to 2 metres (6.5 feet) deep.
What It Looks Like
Myriophyllum variifolium is an aquatic plant. This means it lives in water. It can grow to about 50 centimetres (20 inches) long. Its stems are smooth. They are usually around 0.5 centimetres (0.2 inches) thick. Its leaves are arranged in groups of five. These groups are called whorls.
How It's Different from Similar Plants
Myriophyllum variifolium is very similar to another plant called M. simulans. They can be hard to tell apart. Scientists are still studying these plants. They think there might be even more types of water milfoil that look alike.
You can tell M. variifolium apart by its fruit. It has yellowish-brown, tube-shaped fruit. These are about 1.5 millimetres long. M. simulans has reddish-purple, oval fruit. Its fruit is smaller, about 1 millimetre long. Also, the leaves of M. variifolium grow in whorls of five. The leaves of M. simulans grow in whorls of three or four.
Why It's Important
Myriophyllum variifolium is a good plant for ponds or aquariums. It provides a safe place for fish. Young fish, called fry, can hide among its leaves. It also gives a place for fish to lay their eggs. If you plant it, make sure it's in at least 20 centimetres (8 inches) of water.
