Boaters, anglers asked to watch out for hydrilla plant

The Detroit News reports that boaters and anglers are asked to watch out for hydrilla plant.

The nonnative plant has not been found in Michigan but has popped up in New York and Pennsylvania waters. Its tangled weeds interfere with swimming, boating and even fishing because it can choke off food supplies for other aquatic life. Some researchers say it can also destroy food sources for ducks and other waterfowl.

The plant looks similar to the elodea, a plant already in Michigan, with a few key differences. Hydrilla plants have four or five leaves at each node, while elodea has three. Hydrilla leaves have visible teeth, and the leaf vein has small spines. Elodea leaves and their veins appear smooth.