Starfruit  (Damasonium alisma)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

Starfruit is found in southern and south-western Europe where it is not considered rare, but in the UK it has always been uncommon. Its former range was restricted to a few counties in the south-east with occasional records in the Midlands. During the 20th Century it has declined considerably and by 1980 it was only known from one pond. Following the implementation of management works and regular monitoring to ponds where it was formerly recorded, starfruit has been re-discovered in more than half a dozen ponds during the 1990's, mostly in Surrey and Buckinghamshire.

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

Starfruit is largely associated with ponds that occur on commons or village greens, as it has a requirement for periodic disturbance such as that resulting from the trampling effects of grazing animals. It also appears to prefer shallow, saucer-shaped ponds with fluctuating water levels, often on gravel with little or no organic layer. It does best in places with open vegetation, lack of shade and areas of bare soil.

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