duck-lettuce
(Ottelia alismoides)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Ottelia alismoides is a submersed aquatic herbaceous plant that is native to Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. The plant is entirely submersed except for the flower. Its common name, duck lettuce, comes from the strong resemblance the leaves of O. alismoides bears to lettuce leaves.
Foliage
The leaves of O. alismoides are completely submerged. Leaf-blades are lanceolate to widely ovate, ranging from 4-10 in. (10-25 cm) long. The veins in the leaves run parallel.
Flowers
The small terminal flower is held on a long peduncle which projects it above the surface of the water. The flower may open fully even when still submerged. Flowers of O. alismoideshave obovate petals that range from white to pinkish in color with bright yellow anthers. They bloom from spring through summer.
Fruit
O. alismoides reproduces only by seed. The ribbed oblong fruits range from 0.05-0.13 in. (15-40 mm) long with a beaked tip. It can produce up to 2000 seeds.
Ecological Threat
Ottelia alismoides is a federally listed noxious weed. It can be found in Louisiana, California, Missouri, and Florida. It was reported in waterways along the border between Texas and Louisiana. O. alismoides prefers habitats with shallow water from about 0-164 ft. (0-50 m) deep. This may include bayous, pools, and lakes.
Citations
Rawlins, K.A., R.L. Winston, C.T. Bargeron, D.J. Moorhead, and R. Carroll. 2018. New Invaders of the Southeast. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Assessment and Applied Sciences Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. FHTET-2017-05. Retrieved from http://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/pdf/FHTET-2017-05_New%20Invaders_SE.pdf
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
- Federal Noxious Weeds
- Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
- Indiana Pest Species
- Indiana Prohibited Plant Species
- Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
- Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List
- New Invaders of the Southeast
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- South Carolina Illegal Aquatic Plants
- South Carolina Plant Pest List
- Texas Noxious Weeds
- USDA APHIS Regulated Pest List
- Wisconsin Noxious Weeds
- Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Lilianae |
| Order: Alismatales |
| Family: Hydrocharitaceae |
| Genus: Ottelia |
| Ottelia alismoides |
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.