What type of life cycle does Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) exhibit?

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) exhibits a perennial life cycle, meaning that it can survive for multiple years and continues to grow and reproduce across seasons. This aquatic plant has the ability to establish extensive root systems and forms turions, which are specialized structures that help it survive adverse conditions, such as winter freezes or droughts. Perennial plants like Hydrilla can regrow from their root systems year after year, allowing them to dominate aquatic environments if conditions are favorable. Their persistence can make management of Hydrilla challenging, as even if parts of the plant are removed, it may regenerate from remaining roots or turions in subsequent growth seasons.