Limnobium spongia
(Bosc) L.C. Rich. ex Steud.
American Frog's-bit
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.160766
Element CodePMHYD07010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderHydrocharitales
FamilyHydrocharitaceae
GenusLimnobium
SynonymsLimnobium spongia ssp. spongia
Other Common NamesAmerican spongeplant (EN) American Spongeplant (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic CommentsTreated by Kartesz (1999 Floristic Synthesis) as a species distinct from the tropical species Limnobium laevigatum of the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America; thus defined, L. spongia is North American. However, the tropical plants have sometimes by other authors been included in Limnobium spongia as ssp. laevigatum. Les & Capers (Rhodora 101: 419-423, 1999) provide additional discussion. LEM 29Dec99.
Conservation Status
Review Date1999-12-29
Change Date1999-12-29
Edition Date1999-12-29
Edition AuthorsMorse, Larry E. (1999)
Rank ReasonsWidespread and often weedy aquatic plant in its native range in the eastern United States, reportedly very abundant in some areas of central Florida. Quite rare, and perhaps repeatedly introduced but nonpersisting, in the northern portion of its range (e.g., New York and Connecticut), and some states in central part of range (e.g., North Carolina).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| Missouri | S2 | Yes |
| Mississippi | S4 | Yes |
| Louisiana | SNR | Yes |
| Virginia | S3 | Yes |
| Arkansas | SNR | Yes |
| Oklahoma | S1 | Yes |
| New Jersey | S1 | Yes |
| Illinois | S1 | Yes |
| South Carolina | S4 | Yes |
| Florida | SNR | Yes |
| Maryland | S1 | Yes |
| Alabama | SNR | Yes |
| Indiana | S1 | Yes |
| Tennessee | SNR | Yes |
| New York | SNA | No |
| Georgia | S3 | Yes |
| Kentucky | S2 | Yes |
| Delaware | S2 | Yes |
| North Carolina | S2 | Yes |
| Texas | SNR | Yes |
| West Virginia | S1 | Yes |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
References (5)
- Dodds, J. 2022. Limnobium spongia Rare Plant Profile. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites, State Forest Fire Service & Forestry, Office of Natural Lands Management, New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton, NJ. 16 pp. [https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/heritage/docs/limnobium-spongia-american-frogs-bit.pdf]
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2000. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 22. Magnoliophyta: Alismatidae, Arecidae, Commelinidae (in part), and Zingiberidae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiii + 352 pp.
- Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
- Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
- Les, D. H., and R. S. Capers. 1999. <i>Limnobium spongia</i> (Hydrocharitaceae) discovered in New England. Rhodora 101: 419-423.