European frogbit
Hydrocharis morsus ranae · Aquatic plants
Photo: Tom Scavo / CC BY
Also called Common frogbit, Hydrocharis morsus ranae, Frogbit
State noxious weed listing
- Idaho: Early detection
- Oregon: A list
How to identify European frogbit
- Small round leathery leaves 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches, like miniature lily pads
- Leaf undersides often purple with spongy tissue near the center
- White 3 petaled flowers with a yellow center
- Free floating with dangling roots and runners
Similar plants
Young yellow pond lily and water lily leaves are rooted and notched, and watershield has the stalk in the leaf center.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Winter buds rise in late spring, mats peak in mid to late summer, and new winter buds sink in fall while the plant dies. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | About 50 F water |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Depth | Surface of shallow water, usually under 3 feet |
| How it spreads | Runners and winter buds; seeds rare |
| Habitat | Quiet, sheltered, nutrient rich water of ponds, marshes and lake bays. |
Why it matters in a lake
Forms dense mats that block light and lower oxygen. It is listed in Oregon and on the Idaho early detection list.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Not yet found
- Oregon: Not yet found
- Wyoming: Not recorded
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Alismatales |
| Family | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Scientific name | Hydrocharis morsus ranae |
Common duckweed
Columbia watermeal
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Giant duckweed
Star duckweed
Purple fringed riccia
Turion duckweed
Mexican mosquito fern
Least duckweed
Floating crystalwortNeed a hand?
Is it taking over your lake?
We identify what is growing, map how much of it there is and build a control plan that targets it without harming the rest of the lake.
Idaho / Wyoming (208) 501-4531Oregon (541) 280-0596