aquatic invasive or not?

sequoiamike · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 12:19 pm Post subject: aquatic invasive or not?

Hi, We were doing a cleanup along the river (Midleton, Co. Cork) and discovered that this plant covered a lot of the riverbank (in the water). Primarily where the flow wasn't strong. Can anyone identify it? (middle plant, pinnate leaves)

Sue Deacon · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 3:33 pm Post subject:

At first glace it looks a bit like Solomon's seal. But it's leaves are not in pairs like that. Hope Silver Surfer is along soon, cos guys, I'm stumped! Confused

It looks like I am not the only one. Did a bit of a search and found the same plant with he same question - what is it? There were no answers.

sequoiamike · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 4:18 pm Post subject:

Yes, it looks like something that should be recognisable, but it has us stumped too. And it is fairly prevalent along the riverside, so I thought I might be able to find it somewhere (irishwildflowers.ie, invasive species ireland, etc.), but to no avail! Confused

Sue Deacon · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 5:27 pm Post subject:

There is a creeping Jacob's Ladder that looks a bit like that. But what would it be doing growing wild?

Silver surfer · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 8:43 pm Post subject:

Hmm!
Interesting.
Compare to Apium nodiflorum...fools watercress

http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/weeds-by-scientific-names/apium-nodiflorum-fools-water-cress-helosciadium-nodiflorum.html

Common in Ireland

https://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/plant/apium-nodiflorum

http://www.habitas.org.uk/flora/species.asp?item=3666

http://www.wildfooduk.com/hedgerow-food-guide/fools-watercress-1-hedgerow/

See page 22 here..

http://evidence.environment-agency.gov.uk/FCERM/Libraries/FCERM_Project_Documents/sc120008_field_guide.sflb.ashx

Sue Deacon · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:31 pm Post subject:

It looks nothing like my watercress - but it fooled me! Laughing

Never seen that before. You learn something new every day. That certainly looks like it.

sequoiamike · Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 8:42 am Post subject:

Well spotted Silver Surfer. With this info, I'll go back and investigate further. A relief to know that it does not seem to be detrimental and might actually be beneficial for habitat.

Greengage · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 6:37 am Post subject:

http://www.wildflowersofireland.net/plant_detail.php?id_flower=393&wildflower=Fool