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Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
Also called European Frog-bit, European Frog’s-bit, Frogbit, European Frogbit, Frog's Bit, European Frog's Bit, Tape Grass
Common frogbit is a small free-floating aquatic plant that spreads by runners and forms rosettes on still or slow water. It is grown in ponds and water gardens, but it is invasive in parts of North America, so check local rules before planting.
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae L. is a species of the genus Hydrocharis known by the common name European frog-bit. It is a free-floating flowering plant that bears small white flowers. "Morsus-ranae" means "frog bite" in Latin, and it is part of this species's scientific name because frogs might have been seen as biting on the leaves. European frog-bit is often mistaken for an American frog-bit (Limnobium spongia) due to their similar looks and floating freely. It usually displays invasive behavior in Canada and North America, having a major impact on native ecosystems. However, European frog-bit is efficient in accumulating high concentrations of heavy metals and chemicals, removing waste from water.
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae is native to Europe and Asia and found in slow-flowing rivers, stagnant waters, aquatic ditches, and oxbow lakes. It was initially introduced to Canada and North America in 1932 and has become invasive in eastern Canada and some northern states of the United States. European frog-bit is considered a pest in these regions as it colonizes waterways and forms dense masses of vegetation on the surface, threatening native biodiversity. Thus, it is prohibited to trade or transport this plant in states such as Washington and Minnesota.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Hydrocharis morsus-ranae by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
