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Catling, P. M., Mitrow, G., Haber, E., Posluszny, U. and Charlton, W. A. 203. The biology of Canadian weeds. 124. Hydrocharis morsus-ranae L. Can. J. Plant Sci. 83: 1001-1016. European frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae L.), a free-floating, stoloniferous aquatic, is native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. It was discovered in Canada in 1932 in Ottawa, but earlier introduction is possible. By 1955 its North American distribution extended from Ottawa to Montreal. By 1980 it had extended southwest to Lake Ontario and northeast to Quebec City. Recently it has spread throughout much of the central and southwestern parts of southern Ontario, and further into northern New York and Vermont and eastern Michigan. The maximum rate of spread has been 15.6 km yr -1 . Reproduction by seeds is rarely reported but vegetative reproduction is very important in spread and colonization. In the fall, turions separate from the plant, sinking to the bottom where they overwinter. In the spring, these turions grow into small floating rosettes. Extremely rapid stoloniferous growth during the summer months results in the formation of large masses of interlocking plants that diminish native submerged aquatic plant communities by reducing available light. It is also of importance in limiting water flow in irrigation systems and restricting water traffic, thereby hindering recreational activity. Management has been largely mechanical. Hydrocharis morsus-ranae is a food plant for several water birds, rodents, fish and insects.

Various staining techniques for apices destined for epi-illumination light microscopy are described and discussed. Appropriate modifications to photographic procedures are described. A technique is described for the subsequent observation of specimens in a scanning electron microscope fitted with a cryo-stage.

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Development of each shoot of Echinodorus tenellus proceeds through a vegetative phase when foliage leaves are formed and enters an abruptly initiated reproductive phase, when only scale leaves are formed, by conversion of the meristem into a different form, while a large and precocious bud in the axil of the last foliage leaf continues vegetative development. The reproductive meristem may, according to conditions, form an inflorescence or a “pseudostolon” with vegetative axillary buds in place of flowers. Both inflorescence and pseudostolon show a regular sequence of long and short internodes and a regular alternation of scale leaves with and without axillary buds, though the pattern of the inflorescence is less regular than that of the pseudostolon and the inflorescence has a terminal flower while the pseudostolon has unlimited growth. Phyllotaxis varies according to the stage of development of the plant and in the reproductive shoot is largely determined by the patterns of internode elongation and bud distribution. The significance of the developmental pattern is discussed.