Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 375 



a new plant. In the Outlet, where there is a good current, no winter 

 buds are formed, but the plant remains entire the year through. 

 The tips, however, become reddish. 



552. WHORLED WATER-MILFOIL 



MYRIOPHYLLUM VERTICILLATUM L. 



A very common plant in both lakes and distributed everywhere 

 where the water is not too deep. It grows in rather compact 

 patches, usually mixed with other plants. It flourishes in depths 

 ranging from 6 to 23 feet, and usually in bottom where there is 

 some mud. Unlike the horn-wort (Ceratophyllum) this plant pos- 

 sesses roots, and attaches itself to the bottom. It seems to grow 

 best on sloping bottom. Among the most noteworthy patches in the 

 lake are those about the west edges of Outlet Bay, off from the ice- 

 houses, off from Overmyer's field, and out from the Gravelpit. It 

 is common throughout most of Lost Lake. It grows far out from 

 shore at a point in line with Norris pier and opposite Overmyer's 

 field and in the vicinity of Norris Inlet. 



This plant retains its form pretty well during the winter, but 

 the old leaves assume a brownish tinge. The growing tips of 

 plants form rather compact, elongate, winter buds one could 

 hardly call them that either ; they seem rather the first step toward 

 the formation of winter buds and are the result of a cessation of 

 elongate growth of the plant's axis, and are not nearly as well dif- 

 ferentiated as those of M. spicatum. 



In early spring the waves break some of these tips loose, wash 

 them ashore, or scatter them generally. Such buds were noted as 

 pretty abundant during the latter part of March and all of April. 

 By April 23 the buds had loosened up pretty well from their winter 

 compactness and started to grow. Plants were noted in flower the 

 first of September. Both flowers and fruits are inconspicuous. 



The Whorled Milfoil is rather more conspicuous than M. spica- 

 tum, but not so conspicuous as several other species. It is not so 

 attractive or interesting as M. hetrophyllum which is, oddly enough, 

 absent at Lake Maxinkuckee, although common in Bass Lake and 

 other lakes near by. As an aquarium plant for ornamental pur- 

 poses it is far inferior to the imported and cultivated M. proserapi- 

 nacoides or Parrot's feather. 



This plant is very little used as food by any of the fishes of the 

 lake. One of its principal functions is in affording a place of attach- 

 ment for other organisms. Rivularia frequently grows thickly all 

 over the plants, and it is the favorite habitat of some of the species 



