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Frogbit

Frogbit

Hydrocharis morsus-ranae

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How common: Common

Frogbit is a small floating water plant that looks like a tiny water‑lily. It forms loose patches of round, heart‑notched leaves that ride the surface. In warm weather it may open small white flowers with a yellow spot at the base.

Did you know?

  • In autumn it makes tiny winter buds that sink to the bottom and rise again in spring.
  • It spreads by runners: new little leaf clusters break off and float away.

About the species

Identification

Floating or loosely rooted perennial. Leaf clusters usually 2–10 cm across. Leaves on long stalks, 2–5 cm wide, round to kidney‑shaped with a clear heart‑shaped notch; shiny green above, often reddish beneath. Long branching roots hang in the water. Short creeping stems make runners; in late summer small three‑petaled white flowers with a yellow base may appear but are few. Tell it from duckweeds by the clear stalk and heart‑notch, and from small water‑lilies by its much smaller leaves and free‑floating habit. Flowers in Finland in July–August.

Plant group

Herbaceous plants

Habitat

water

Flowering

Jul–Aug

About the habitat

Sheltered, nutrient‑rich still waters such as quiet lake bays, ponds, slow ditches and backwaters, often among reeds. Mainly in southern and central Finland; scattered north to around Kemi; has increased with nutrient enrichment of small waters.

Sources

Photo: Hans Van Calster, CC0 1.0 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/6234255318

Text: Pinkka: Kasvitieteen retkeily Ahvenanmaalle - Nåtön biologinen asema, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40115

Text: Pinkka: IPS-177 Fennoscandian flora - Hippophaë-Lythrum, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40115

Text: Pinkka (Luomus), CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40115

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilpukka

See also