Myriophyllum farwellii - Watermilfoil

This is a native watermilfoil found growing in lakes and ponds. It grows close to the bottom in branching colonies. The stems are much less robust and brigther green than Eurasian watermilfoil. There were not any fruiting structures on this sample, so an exact identification could not be ascertained. However, the presence of winter buds (dense tips of vegetative branches) points to M. farwellii rather than M. humile, a similar native species.

Myriophyllum sibiricum (M. exalbescens) - Northern Watermilfoil

This is a native watermilfoil found growing in lakes and ponds. It often grows in dense stands, but stays close to the bottom. The leaves have 11 or fewer segments on a side, with the uppermost leaves being rounded at the apex. Northern watermilfoil forms winter buds in the fall, a dense area of leaves at the stem tip.

Myriophyllum spicatum - Eurasian Watermilfoil (INVASIVE)

This is a non-native invasive watermilfoil found growing in lakes and ponds. It often grows in dense stands and grows to the surface, forming mats. The leaves have 12 or fewer segments on a side, with the uppermost leaves being truncate (square-ish) at the apex. Eurasian milfoil does not form winter buds.