This particular plant is widely known as the “common reed,” but the havoc it is causing on wetlands in various parts Nothing ruins a trip to the beach like having to navigate around or through piles of rotting seaweed to get to the water. This is why Sargassumhas earned a place on our list of the worst water weeds. This genus of macroalgae (seaweed), started making headlines back in 2015 when huge amounts of it started piling up and decaying on lovely Caribbean island beaches such as the Dominican Republic, Barbados, Antigua, and Tobago. Then it hit the Caribbean coast of Mexico, wreaking havoc especially in Cancun as well as Belize. It has also started appearing in large quantities on some Florida beaches. Hundreds of beaches have been affected while others remain clear depending on location. Check out the maps at Sargassum Monitoring for more information. Here’s everything you need to know about Sargassum.of the United States is anything but, which is why it definitely makes our list of the worst water weeds. In the world of scientific botany, the genus is known as Phragmites, with four main species found in different parts of the world. Only one of those four species, however, is the one causing major headaches around the country. It is also on the list of Invasive and Exotic Aquatic Plants maintained by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Here’s what you need to know about Phragmites.
Image credit: Michael Montero/UM News, South Beach on Miami Beach on June 21, 2018.
Image credit: University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.
Long Beach, Barbados, July 2018. Image Credit: Barbados Sea Turtle Project