Aquacide Blog — WEED RAKER

Chara (Starwort or skunkweed) is a light green form of algae.  It has around 6 spike-like branches whorled around each node. Chara is often confused for Coontail, a rooted weed. It has no flower, stays submerged and never rises above the water surface. Mid-season, as it matures, Chara will have a crunchy or gritty texture due to calcium carbonate deposits on the leaves. When crushed, Chara has a musty odor. Chara will keep bottom sediment from erosion. It is important fish habitat and food for small aquatic animals, ducks, trout, bluegills and bass. It grows rapidly and can easily take...

Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) is an annual aquatic weed found mainly in the northeastern United States. Water Chestnut has triangular or diamond-shaped leaves with toothed edges. The leaves cluster in floating rosettes attached to an inflated spongy central stem. Rosettes have small, white 4-petaled, flowers and may produce up to 20 seeds. Each seed has four sharply pointed spines. Seeds fall from the weed, overwinter at the bottom and germinate in spring as weather warms. Water Chestnut grows primarily in mucky, nutrient rich water in up to 5 foot depths. One acre of Water Chestnut can spread to 100 acres within...