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Uruguayan Water Primrose

Ludwigia uruguayensis

Non-Native

Uruguayan Water Primrose

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

What is Uruguayan Water Primrose?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

Young Leaves:

  • Smooth
  • Alternate
  • Oval-shaped

Aged Leaves:

  • Covered in short, soft hairs
  • Sword or elliptical shaped

Flowers:

  • No flowers if floating leaves present
  • Grow as single flowers
  • Stalks 0.79-1.18
  • 5 yellow petals

Stem:

  • Smooth when young
  • Grow horizontally over the soil
  • Up to 3 feet tall
  • Covered in soft hairs as it ages
  • Uprights

Roots:

  • Rooting at nodes
  • White
  • Spongy
  • Stiff

Where Does it Grow?

Non-Native

Uruguayan water primrose can be found in shallow marshes, ponds and ditches.

Pros and Cons of Uruguayan Water Primrose

This plant is not native to North America and should not be introduced into new water bodies and should be treated with herbicide when present.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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