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The unwelcome spread of Eufrogbitropean frog-bit continues in Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes region. A native of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the rapidly growing exotic aquatic invasive plant often forms dense mats in slow moving waters such as inlets, canals, coastal wetlands, and wind-sheltered inland lake shorelines. Abundant colonies of the highly invasive floating-leaf plant are capable of out-competing beneficial native aquatic plants, and are considered a threat to freshwater biodiversity. Imported from Europe in the early 1930’s for commercial sale as an ornamental plant, European frog-bit has since spread to the St. Lawrence River, most of Ontario, including Lake Erie; Michigan, and New York. Capable of growing in water depths of up to two feet, the plant produces an attractive single white flower up to one half inch in width that features three rounded petals and a yellow center. Rapid spread of the invasive plant is enabled by its ability to reproduce via stem fragments, seeds, and turions that are often transported from one freshwater body to another by recreational boaters and wildlife. Dense colonies of the species are capable of impeding boat traffic in canals and inlets, and may also interfere with swimming and other water-borne activities. Lakefront property owners and water sports enthusiasts are encouraged to report detections of the wayward aquatic invasive plant to the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network at www.misin.msu.edu .

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