Limnobium laevigatum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Heine

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (34)

Photo: Mark Hyde
Lake Chivero, by Jacana Yacht Club

Photo: Philip Weyl
Charara Bay, near banana plantation

Photo: Mark Hyde
Mukuvisi Woodland, by Chiraura River

Photo: Tracey Couto
On the Gwebi river near Komani Flying Club

Photo: Ephraim Nyaganga
Upper Ume River, near Redcliffs, Lake Kariba

Photo: Ephraim Nyaganga
Harava Dam, near Chitungwiza

Photo: Ian Riddell
Mana Pools National Park

Photo: Mark Hyde
Garden of 12, Zimre Way, Mandara, Harare

Photo: Mark Hyde
Kuimba Shiri Bird Park, Lake Chivero

Photo: Petra Ballings
Umguza river, Umguza Nature Reserve, Bulawayo.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Umguza river, Umguza Nature Reserve, Bulawayo.

Photo: Benjamin Miller
Borrowdale Brooke, Harare.

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Hydromystria laevigata (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Díaz.-Mir. & Philcox Salvinia laevigata Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
Common names:	Amazon frogbit (English) West indian sponge-plant (English)
Frequency:	Abundant at scattered locations
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Aquatic herb. Young leaves subcircular, floating, hairless and glossy above, with a thick layer of air-filled spongy tissue beneath; base rounded or shallowly cordate. More mature plants have clustered larger leaves that are held more erect above the water surface on long petioles.
Notes:	See Note 12 for an account of the initial finding of this species and Note 19 in which the information is updated.
Derivation of specific name:	laevigatum: smooth
Habitat:	Floating in water, at the edges of dams and in the backwaters of rivers.
Altitude range: (metres)	490 - 1550 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Scattered through northern Venezuela, Central Mexico, Central America, West Indies and South America, except Chile.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,C
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Friday 4 June 2021
Literature:	Howard, G.W., Hyde, M.A. & Bingham, M.G. (2016). Alien Limnobium laevigatum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Heine (Hydrocharitaceae) becoming prevalent in Zimbabwe and Zambia BioInvasions Records 5(4) Pages 221 - 225. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Limnobium laevigatum:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Limnobium laevigatum
Flora of Zambia: Limnobium laevigatum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Limnobium laevigatum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Limnobium laevigatum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Limnobium laevigatum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Limnobium laevigatum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Limnobium laevigatum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Limnobium laevigatum
JSTOR Plant Science: Limnobium laevigatum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Limnobium laevigatum
Plants of the World Online: Limnobium laevigatum
Tropicos: Limnobium laevigatum
Wikipedia: Limnobium laevigatum