frogsmouth
(Philydrum lanuginosum)
This species is Introduced in the United States
ORIGIN: Asia, Australia
GROWTH TRAITS: Herbaceous, emergent aquatic perennial that is anchored in the sediment by a fibrous root system with short rhizomes. Stems grow in tufts (clumps) up to 1.6-6' (0.5-1.8 m) tall and are green initially, but may turn reddish with age. The erect leaves are attached basally and are 2-ranked (arranged in two rows in the same plane, on opposite sides of the stem). Leaves are linear, growing 1-2.3' (30-70 cm) long by 0.8" (2 cm) wide, and are thickened, flat, spongy, and usually hairy. Flowers are produced in long, thin, woolly spikes from spring through fall (but most frequently in summer). Flowers are 2-lipped and up to 0.6" (1.5 cm) long with yellow petals and one stamen; each rests on a bract nearly as long as the flower, and each lasts only one day. The fruitsare capsules that turn reddish with maturity and open to release hundreds to thousands of dust-like seeds. This plant may behave as an evergreen in warm, tropical climates, but often dies back from frost in colder regions.
REPRODUCTION: Spreads by seed and sprouting from its short rhizomes. Seed longevity is unknown, but seeds germinate rapidly upon dispersal.
HABITAT: Grows best in full to partial sun in waterlogged soils such as freshwater wetlands, marshes, streams, swamps, rice fields, and margins of streams and lakes but can survive prolonged periods in standing water up to 2' (0.6 m) deep.
LOOK-ALIKES: The exotic yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) is similar with its yellow flowers, flat and spongy leaves, overall height, and habitat. It differs with its much larger, showier flowers and its wider leaves. Some native species of rush (Juncus) also resemble woolly frogsmouth, but can be differentiated by their round stems, reduced leaves, and clusters of non-showy flowers.
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
GROWTH TRAITS: Herbaceous, emergent aquatic perennial that is anchored in the sediment by a fibrous root system with short rhizomes. Stems grow in tufts (clumps) up to 1.6-6' (0.5-1.8 m) tall and are green initially, but may turn reddish with age. The erect leaves are attached basally and are 2-ranked (arranged in two rows in the same plane, on opposite sides of the stem). Leaves are linear, growing 1-2.3' (30-70 cm) long by 0.8" (2 cm) wide, and are thickened, flat, spongy, and usually hairy. Flowers are produced in long, thin, woolly spikes from spring through fall (but most frequently in summer). Flowers are 2-lipped and up to 0.6" (1.5 cm) long with yellow petals and one stamen; each rests on a bract nearly as long as the flower, and each lasts only one day. The fruitsare capsules that turn reddish with maturity and open to release hundreds to thousands of dust-like seeds. This plant may behave as an evergreen in warm, tropical climates, but often dies back from frost in colder regions.
REPRODUCTION: Spreads by seed and sprouting from its short rhizomes. Seed longevity is unknown, but seeds germinate rapidly upon dispersal.
HABITAT: Grows best in full to partial sun in waterlogged soils such as freshwater wetlands, marshes, streams, swamps, rice fields, and margins of streams and lakes but can survive prolonged periods in standing water up to 2' (0.6 m) deep.
LOOK-ALIKES: The exotic yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) is similar with its yellow flowers, flat and spongy leaves, overall height, and habitat. It differs with its much larger, showier flowers and its wider leaves. Some native species of rush (Juncus) also resemble woolly frogsmouth, but can be differentiated by their round stems, reduced leaves, and clusters of non-showy flowers.
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
Invasive Listing Sources
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Lilianae |
| Order: Liliales |
| Family: Philydraceae |
| Genus: Philydrum |
| Philydrum lanuginosum |
References
Common Name Reference: Derived from taxonomy / Generic common name
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/queries.pl