Scientific Name:
Pistia stratiotes
Pronunciation:
PEES-tee-uh stra-tee-OH-tees
Common Name:
water lettuce
Family Name:
Araceae
Plant Type:
Aquatic plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves basal, fleshy, ribbed, velvety, and arranged in a floating rosette.
Habit:
Spreading, Upright
Form:
Creeping / Mat-like
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
0.1 - 0.2m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central America, South America, South Asia / India
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Water Use:
High
Landscape Uses:
Aquatic - ponds
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Heavily veined
Surfaces:
Tomentose
Colour in Summer:
Bluish
Shapes:
Spatulate, Other
Apices:
Rounded, Truncate
Bases:
Truncate
Margins:
Entire, Undulate (wavy)
Inflorescence Type:
Spadix (& spathe)
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Number Of Petals:
0
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Yellow
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Aug
Fruit Type:
Berry (true)
Fruit Colour:
Green
Fruiting Time:
Sep
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant,
Bark or Stem Colour:
Organ Modifications:
Runners (or stolons)
Propagation:
Division - above ground parts, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
High
Pest Susceptibility:
Slugs or snails
