[6]  The species is often misidentified or overlooked due to issues in predictions of infestations and dispersal.

It is often mistaken as M. verticillatum in Europe or M. hippuroides, M. laxum or M. pinnatum in North America due to their similar vegetation.

[6] In the European Union, the plant has also been found in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Hungary, Sweden and the Netherlands.

[4] Citizen science observations also suggests occurrences in the western-part of the United States and Central America.

It grows rapidly and can form dense mats just underneath the water surface, causing reduced availability of oxygen and sunlight.