Friday 17 May
Floating water-plantain (Luronium natans)
LEASTCONCERN
Floating water-plantain fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Floating water-plantain description
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Alismatales |
| Family | Alismataceae |
| Genus | Luronium (1) |
Floating water plantain (Luronium natans) can be found in two different forms. In shallow water, it develops with floating oval leaves, in deep water it has submerged rosettes of narrow leaves. The flowers usually occur singly, on long stems from the leaf joints, and are white with yellow spots at the base of the petals.
- Size
- Length of submerged leaves: up to 10 cm
- Length of floating leaves: 1.0 - 2.5 cm
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Related species
Floating water-plantain biology
Floating water-plantain seems to flourish best where the water is open, and where there is some disturbance. It does not seem to be able to tolerate competition from other aquatic vegetation, and populations fluctuate considerably in size as a result of dredging operations, or when the water levels drop to expose the bottom. In spite of the fact that over half of the recent (post-1980) records for this species have been from canals, plant populations seem to be more stable at natural sites than artificial ones, such as canals and similar habitats.
TopFloating water-plantain range
This species is found scattered across western Britain, with records in Wales, the West Midlands and northern England. It has also been introduced to some ditches in the Norfolk Broads and a few places in Scotland. The plant is endemic to Europe. Floating water-plantain seems to have spread eastwards from its 'home' territory of mid and North Wales, in particular Snowdonia, as a result of the building of the canal systems in the 19th century. Many of the plant's recent records have been from canals.
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Species with a similar range
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You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Floating water-plantain habitat
The water-plantain is found mainly in lakes and canals with a fairly acid pH level.
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Species found in a similar habitat
Floating water-plantain status
The floating water-plantain is listed under Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive and Appendix I of the Bern Convention, Schedule 4 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1994, Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Floating water-plantain threats
The threat to this plant comes mainly from the opening up of the canals to leisure craft, which stirs up the mud and ooze increasing the turbidity of the water. In rivers, its preferred habitat has been reduced greatly by straightening of channels, dredging and pollution.
TopFloating water-plantain conservation
Floating water-plantain is listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP), and is included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme. There are a number of organisations involved in protecting the future of this plant, including the Countryside Council for Wales, and British Waterways who are the lead partner. Amongst the measures proposed are the provision of 'sanctuary' areas of the canal, protected by piling, where the water-plantain can grow without excessive disturbance and where the turbid water stirred up by boat traffic will not cause harm. It has also been proposed that where canal restoration might involve damage to the plant populations, reserves should be created for the water-plantain so that it can be re-introduced following completion of the engineering work.
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The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP. |
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There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Authentication
Information supplied by English Nature.
http://www.english-nature.org.uk
References
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IUCN Red List (June, 2011)
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
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Image credit
Floating water-plantain in flower
© Bob Gibbons / Natural Image
Natural Image
24 Newborough Rd
Wimborne
Dorset
BH21 1RD
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1202 675 916
Fax: +44 (0) 1202 848 419
bobgibbons@btinternet.com
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