Editing Elodea

{{Short description|Genus of aquatic plants}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Elodea canadensis.jpeg
| image_caption = ''[[Elodea canadensis]]'' foliage detail
| taxon = Elodea
| authority = [[André Michaux|Michx.]], 1803
| subdivision_ranks = 
| subdivision = 
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="POWO">{{cite POWO |id=30042890-2 |title=''Elodea'' Michx. |access-date=13 October 2024}}</ref>
| synonyms = {{Species list
 | Anacharis | [[Louis Claude Richard|Rich.]] (1808)
 | Apalanthe | [[Planch.]] (1848)
 | Diplandra | [[Carlo Giuseppe Bertero|Bertero]] (1829)
 | Egeria | Planch. (1849)
 | Hydora | [[Wilibald Swibert Joseph Gottlieb von Besser|Besser]] (1832)
 | Philotria | [[Raf.]] (1818)
 | Serpicula | [[Frederick Traugott Pursh|Pursh]] (1816)
 | Udora | [[Nutt.]] (1818)
}}
}}

'''''Elodea''''' is a [[genus]] of eight species of [[aquatic plant]]s often called the '''waterweeds''' described as a genus in 1803. Classified in the frog's-bit family ([[Hydrocharitaceae]]), ''Elodea'' is native to the [[Americas]]<ref name="POWO" /> and is also widely used as [[aquarium]] vegetation and laboratory demonstrations of cellular activities. It lives in fresh water.<ref>Luteyn, J. L. 1999. Páramos, a checklist of plant diversity, geographical distribution, and botanical literature. Memoirs of The New York Botanical Garden  84: viii–xv, 1–278</ref> An older name for this genus is ''Anacharis'', which serves as a common name in North America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=111486|title=Elodea in Flora of North America @ efloras.org|website=www.efloras.org|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref>

The introduction of some species of ''Elodea'' into waterways in parts of Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and New Zealand has created a significant problem and it is now considered a noxious [[weed]] in these areas.

;Species<ref name="POWO" />
# ''[[Elodea bifoliata]]'' {{small|H.St.John}} – Canada ([[Alberta|AB]], [[Saskatchewan|SK]]), W United States ([[Oregon|OR]] + [[California|CA]] to [[New Mexico|NM]] + [[Minnesota|MN]]) 
# ''[[Elodea callitrichoides]]'' {{small|(Rich.) Casp.}} – Argentina, Uruguay
# ''[[Elodea canadensis]]'' {{small|Michx.}} – most of United States + Canada
# ''[[Elodea densa]]'' {{small|(Planch.) Casp.}}
# ''[[Elodea granatensis]]'' {{small|Bonpl.}} – much of South America
# ''[[Elodea heterostemon]]'' {{small|(S.Koehler & C.P.Bove) Byng & Christenh.}}
# ''[[Elodea najas]]'' {{small|(Planch.) Casp.}}
# ''[[Elodea nuttallii]]'' {{small|(Planch.) H.St.John}} – much of United States + Canada 
# ''[[Elodea potamogeton]]'' {{small|(Bertero) Espinosa}} – Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador

== Chemical control ==
Chemical methods are ineffective in eradicating Elodea – at best they only slow growth for a season or two.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Efficacy of Fluridone, Penoxsulam, and Bispyribac-sodium on Variable-leaf Milfoil|url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228961575|website = ResearchGate|access-date = 2015-08-26}}</ref> As Elodea spreads into new ecosystems, it experiences rapid growth for 5–6 years and then slows as soil nutrients are used up.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Does competition for phosphate supply explain the invasion pattern of Elodea species?|journal = Water Research|date = 2005-09-01|issn = 0043-1354|pmid = 16026814|pages = 3385–3393|volume = 39|issue = 14|doi = 10.1016/j.watres.2005.05.036|first = Gabrielle|last = Thiébaut| bibcode=2005WatRe..39.3385T }}</ref> Elodea is threatening aquatic environments across Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Genetic diversity in three invasive clonal aquatic species in New Zealand|journal = BMC Genetics|date = 2010-06-18|issn = 1471-2156|pmc = 2902404|pmid = 20565861|pages = 52|volume = 11|doi = 10.1186/1471-2156-11-52|first1 = Carla|last1 = Lambertini|first2 = Tenna|last2 = Riis|first3 = Birgit|last3 = Olesen|first4 = John S|last4 = Clayton|first5 = Brian K|last5 = Sorrell|first6 = Hans|last6 = Brix | doi-access=free }}</ref> Chemicals may be used in places that cause undue economic concerns, but very few aquatic herbicides are registered for aquatic use in the EU. [[Fluridone]], the most commonly used aquatic herbicide is highly effective against Hydrilla, but only marginally effective against Elodea, especially at lower use rates.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Molecular evolution of herbicide resistance to phytoene desaturase inhibitors in Hydrilla verticillata and its potential use to generate herbicide-resistant crops|journal = Pest Management Science|date = 2005-03-01|issn = 1526-498X|pmid = 15668922|pages = 258–268|volume = 61|issue = 3|doi = 10.1002/ps.1022|first1 = Renée S.|last1 = Arias|first2 = Michael D.|last2 = Netherland|first3 = Brian E.|last3 = Scheffler|first4 = Atul|last4 = Puri|first5 = Franck E.|last5 = Dayan| s2cid=23469042 | url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub/901 |url-access = subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title = Somatic mutation-mediated evolution of herbicide resistance in the nonindigenous invasive plant hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)|journal = Molecular Ecology|date = 2004-10-01|issn = 0962-1083|pmid = 15367135|pages = 3229–3237|volume = 13|issue = 10|doi = 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2004.02280.x|first1 = Albrecht|last1 = Michel|first2 = Renee S.|last2 = Arias|first3 = Brian E.|last3 = Scheffler|first4 = Stephen O.|last4 = Duke|first5 = Michael|last5 = Netherland|first6 = Franck E.|last6 = Dayan| bibcode=2004MolEc..13.3229M |s2cid = 19191358|url = https://naldc-legacy.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=12131&content=PDF|url-access = subscription}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sepro.com/documents/Sonar-H4C_Label.pdf|title=SONAR H4C Label|last=Sepro|first=Corp|website=Sonar H4C Aquatic Herbicide|publisher=Sepro}}</ref>

== Mechanical control ==
[[file:Berky Mähsammelboot Elodea.jpg|thumb|An [[aquatic weed harvester]] collecting ''Elodea'' from a lake]]
The plants can also be removed from lakes and rivers mechanically. They are extracted either by hand or by using rakes, chains, [[aquatic weed harvester|mowing boats]] or weed buckets. The problem is that through vegetative reproduction via fragments, mechanical removal methods can contribute to the spread of the plant. Torn fragments can be transported downstream or are introduced to new environments via attachment to boats and anchor chains.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Elodea+canadensis | title=GISD }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Stormy Lake (Alaska)]] a lake where Fluoridone was successfully used to eliminate elodea
* [[Grass carp]] also effective against elodea

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8169,8172 Jepson Manual Treatment]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q21129}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hydrocharitaceae]]
[[Category:Hydrocharitaceae genera]]
[[Category:Freshwater plants]]
[[Category:Aquarium plants]]
[[Category:Taxa named by André Michaux]]