Pistia stratiotes

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Common Name: water-lettuce

Family: Araceae

Common Synonyms: none

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9a-11

Growth Habit: Aquatic

Origin: South America

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: Yes

Introduction Date: pre-1765

IFAS Assessment:

  • North: PROHIBITED
  • Central: PROHIBITED
  • South: PROHIBITED
NA
Forest and Kim Starr

Description

Is an aquatic herb, that floats on the surface on the water. The leaves form a rosette, are grayish-green in color, and are connected to one another by short stolon. The leaves are spongy near the base, are pubescent, and have parallel veins. The flowers are inconspicuous and form near the leaf axil.

Habitat

Ponds, sloughs, rivers, and canals.

Comments

NA

Map of species distribution

Control Methods

  • Manual: harvesters and chopping machines
  • Chemical: NA
  • Biological: The water lettuce leaf weevil, Neohydronomus affinis, was released and has established, but does not usually provide adequate control.

Control Notes

NA

References

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-profiles/http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-profiles/ accessed 13 June, 2017

http://davesgarden.com accessed 13 June, 2017