Canadian waterweed

Canadian waterweed, scientifically known as Elodea canadensis, is a submerged aquatic plant native to the Americas. It is a herbaceous perennial with dark green leaves arranged in whorls along its stem.1

This plant is widely used in aquariums and for educational purposes in schools to demonstrate cellular activities like photosynthesis and to observe structures such as chloroplasts and nuclei. While it has thin roots for anchoring, it can also thrive while floating.1

Canadian waterweed has become an invasive species in many parts of the world, including Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe, where it can hinder lake navigation. Many invasive populations reproduce through asexual fragmentation, often consisting of individuals of a single sex.1