Plant Management in Florida Waters - An Integrated Approach

Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences & Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Invasive Plant Management Section

Water spinach

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Quick Facts MORE INFO
Scientific name	Ipomoea aquatica
Origin	China
Introduction	Mid-1900s, vegetable crop
Aquatic community	Emergent
Habitat	Dry land, shorelines, floating mats
Distribution	Isolated sites, statewide
Management effort	Eradication
2017 public waters / plant acres	0 / 0
2017 Waters / acres controlled	1 ditch / 1

Ipomoea aquatica

Ipomoea aquatica

Management Options
Biological	None available
Chemical	Glyphosate, imazapyr, triclopyr
Mechanical	Not feasible, fragments start new plants
Physical	Hand pulling

Environmental and Economic Concerns

Grows several inches per day
Forms dense canopies over emergent plants
Creates floating mats on water surfaces
Common weed throughout the tropics, especially in rice fields
Potential for rapid dispersal by persons planting as a vegetable crop
Under FWC eradication programs when found in ditches and canals

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Status of the Aquatic Plant Maintenance Program in Florida Public Waters, Annual Report – Fiscal Year 2016-2017.