Species of the Month August 2019

Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae)

 

Frogbit is a small, free-floating plant of ponds, lakes, and still or slow-flowing waterways such as canals. It looks like a mini water-lily with green, rounded, kidney-shaped leaves, and a three-petalled white flower with a yellow centre. The petals often look thin and crinkly, and can appear to be translucent in bright sunshine.  Female flowers are solitary but the male flowers grow in twos or threes.    

We have only 361 records of Frogbit at SEWBReC. You can view the known Welsh distribution of here on Aderyn. More information (including a fact sheet with potential confusion species) can be found on the Living Levels website.

If you spot Frogbit during August (or at any other time of year), please send us the record, ideally via SEWBReCORD or the LERC Wales App. Instructions on how to submit records are available here.