Myriophyllum spicatum L.

Spice Image 2 In the field

Family: HALORAGACEAE

Genus: Myriophyllum

Catalan common name: Volantí espigat.

Spanish common name: Filigrana mayor. Fontanera.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Cosmopolitan and subcosmopolitan

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hydrophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Marshes and torrents.

Characteristics: This species lives permanently submerged in canals and freshwater ponds. It has an unmistakable appearance, because the leaves are divided as if they were feathers or fishbones, moreover they are gathered in whorls. The whole plant has a brownish green colour and may have depositions of carbonates because it always lives in waters that are very rich in carbonates. The inflorescences have the shape of spikes without leaves or reduced to small, whole or slightly divided bracts, which come out of the water for pollinization. The other species, Myriophyllum verticillatum has inflorescences with clearly visible divided bracts. It flowers in summer.