A New Invasive Plant in Sligo Water Primrose

"Trust me, it is bad news," John Parrish wrote after identifying this species for us.
"In local stormwater ponds it competes with our native species. Most of the non-native Jussiaeas are from tropical America -
as far south as South America, and are spreading northward in disturbed habitats such as stormwater ponds."

Water-Primrose has been found at the pond inside the beltway, the golf course waterway, the three holding ponds off Dennis.
So far none occurs at the two ponds above Forest Glen.

Our new plant is one of five closely-related species of Jussiaea from tropical America. It is part of the Evening Primrose family, Onagraceae.
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The flower is buttercup-like, but twice the size of most.

Water Primrose grows from pond edges.

The plant has the potential to cover the pond surface, but in August 2005
it occurred mainly in the corners of the rear pond, and not at all in the front pond.