water soldier
Stratiotes aloides L.

Overview

Appearance

Stratiotes aloides is a submerged aquatic perennial plant that becomes buoyant during the summer. It produces stolons. S. aloides is native to temperate Asia and Europe.

Foliage

S. aloides has bright green sword shaped leaves with serrated margins. The leaves that can grow up to 16 in. (40 cm) long grow into stalkless rosettes.

Flowers

The flowers have three white to pinkish petals.

Fruit

Fruits are fleshy berries that can each contain up to 24 seeds. It also spreads by offsets on the stolons.

Ecological Threat

S. aloides can form dense mats of floating vegetation that crowds out native plant species. It can change water chemistry. The large dense mats and the serrated sharply pointed foliage of S. aloides can restrict recreational use of the water and pose a danger to swimmers and other people that handle the plant.

Resources

• Fact Sheet - Ontarios Invading Species Awareness Program

Selected Images

Maps

Invasive Listing Sources

• Alabama Noxious Weeds - Class C Noxious Weed
• Alberta Fisheries Act
• Florida Noxious Weeds
• Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
• Michigan’s Invasive Species Watch List
• Michigan’s Prohibited and Restricted Species
• Minnesota DNR invasive species list
• New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
• Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program Tracked Species List
• Oregon Noxious Weeds
• Wisconsin Noxious Weeds
• Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40

References