loose watermilfoil
CR

loose watermilfoil

Myriophyllum laxum

Unknown

Photo: Photo: (c) Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell

Overview

Loose watermilfoil (Myriophyllum laxum) is an aquatic perennial herb characterized by its delicate, feathery submerged leaves arranged in whorls around slender stems. This native aquatic plant plays a crucial ecological role by providing oxygen to water systems, offering shelter and breeding habitat for fish and aquatic invertebrates, and helping to stabilize sediments in freshwater environments.

Loose watermilfoil (Myriophyllum laxum) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat destruction and degradation of its freshwater wetland environments. The species faces severe pressure from agricultural development, water pollution, and hydrological changes that alter the delicate aquatic ecosystems it depends upon.

Threat summary

Habitat

Loose watermilfoil inhabits shallow freshwater environments including slow-moving streams, ponds, lakes, and wetland margins with soft substrates. It typically grows in clear to moderately turbid waters at depths ranging from 0.5 to 3 meters, preferring areas with gentle water flow and stable water levels.

Frequently asked questions

Why is loose watermilfoil classified as Critically Endangered?
loose watermilfoil is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Loose watermilfoil (Myriophyllum laxum) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat destruction and degradation of its freshwater wetland environments. The species faces severe pressure from agricultural development, water pollution, and hydrological changes that alter the delicate aquatic ecosystems it depends upon.
Where does loose watermilfoil live?
loose watermilfoil occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to loose watermilfoil?
The main threats to loose watermilfoil are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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