Water Lettuce
Pistia stratiotes
Water Lettuce
Pistia stratiotes
Pistia stratiotes, commonly known as Water Lettuce, Water Cabbage, or Nile Cabbage, is a free-floating aquatic plant belonging to the arum family (Araceae). It is the only species in its genus (Pistia), making it a distinctive member of the group. Its exact place of origin is uncertain, though it was first described from plants collected on the Nile River near Lake Victoria in Africa. Today, it is widespread across tropical and subtropical regions, including the Caribbean, and is often considered an invasive species.
This plant forms a soft, velvety rosette of overlapping leaves that float on the water surface. The leaves are light green, spongy in texture, and range from 2 to 15 cm long. Each leaf has a broad base, wavy margins, and fine white hairs that trap air and help the plant stay buoyant. The underside of the rosette carries long, feathery roots that hang freely into the water.
Water Lettuce grows best in still or slow-moving freshwater habitats such as ponds, canals, and drainage basins. Under warm, nutrient-rich conditions, it can spread quickly and form dense mats that block sunlight and reduce oxygen levels, impacting native aquatic life. These mats can also create ideal breeding areas for mosquitoes, making this species both ecologically and hygienically problematic in stagnant waters.
Despite its delicate appearance, Pistia stratiotes is a resilient and competitive species that thrives wherever water is calm and warm.
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Pistieae
Genus: Pistia
Binomial name: Pistia stratiotes
Can be found at Graeme Hall Swamp
Pistia stratiotes
Pistia stratiotes, commonly known as Water Lettuce, Water Cabbage, or Nile Cabbage, is a free-floating aquatic plant belonging to the arum family (Araceae). It is the only species in its genus (Pistia), making it a distinctive member of the group. Its exact place of origin is uncertain, though it was first described from plants collected on the Nile River near Lake Victoria in Africa. Today, it is widespread across tropical and subtropical regions, including the Caribbean, and is often considered an invasive species.
This plant forms a soft, velvety rosette of overlapping leaves that float on the water surface. The leaves are light green, spongy in texture, and range from 2 to 15 cm long. Each leaf has a broad base, wavy margins, and fine white hairs that trap air and help the plant stay buoyant. The underside of the rosette carries long, feathery roots that hang freely into the water.
Water Lettuce grows best in still or slow-moving freshwater habitats such as ponds, canals, and drainage basins. Under warm, nutrient-rich conditions, it can spread quickly and form dense mats that block sunlight and reduce oxygen levels, impacting native aquatic life. These mats can also create ideal breeding areas for mosquitoes, making this species both ecologically and hygienically problematic in stagnant waters.
Despite its delicate appearance, Pistia stratiotes is a resilient and competitive species that thrives wherever water is calm and warm.
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Pistieae
Genus: Pistia
Binomial name: Pistia stratiotes
Can be found at Graeme Hall Swamp
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