''Ludwigia hexapetala'', the water primrose, is a herbaceous

perennial plant A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

of the family Onagraceae. Native to Central and South America, its habitat includes the margins of lakes, ponds, ditches, and streams. Its stems may be immersed or fully emergent. It is a noxious invader of aquatic ecosystems in North America.

Habitat

''Ludwigia hexapetala'' is native to

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. It occurs naturally in swampier regions, such as those of lakes, ponds, and other areas of low intensity/stagnant water. It grows in mats of up to three feet tall, and in doing so, it crowds and/or shades out the other, more native species. The plant is known to inhabit the

Southeast United States The Southeastern United States, also referred to as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical region of the United States. It is located broadly on the eastern portion of the southern United States and the southern por ...

Midwest United States The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...

, Pacific Coast, and parts of

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External resources

*http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/plantid2/descriptions/ludhex.html *https://web.archive.org/web/20050814081017/http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Written_findings/Ludwigia_hexapetala.html *http://www.patentlens.net/daisy/AgroTran/g8/821.html *https://web.archive.org/web/20130603161101/http://www.fairchildgarden.org/uploads/docs/Education/Downloadable_teaching_modules/plant%20kingdom/monocot%20and%20dicot%20characteristics%20handout.pdf hexapetala {{Myrtales-stub