Water Milfoil
There are several species of milfoil and it is often difficult to tell them apart without the flowers or seeds. Almost all of the water milfoils have limp dissected featherlike whorled (some arc alternate) leaves which radiate from a hollow stem. The flowers are tiny and inconspicuous and are usually present from July through September. Light yellow to brownish in color, they are frequently surrounded by broad undissected axils (bracts) which occur in terminal spikes above the water's surface. Reproduction is by seeds, rhizomes and plant fragments. Water milfoil is sometimes confused with coontail (Ceratophyllum species). However, coontail has teeth or serrations on the leaflets, whereas water milfoil's leaflets are smooth. Also, in water milfoil the leaves radiate from the central stem only and the plant has a root system.