What is Limnobium laevigatum?
Limnobium laevigatum is a floating aquatic plant, and is a member of the family Hydrocharitaceae. Common names include West Indian spongeplant, South American spongeplant and Amazon or smooth frogbit. This plant was introduced to North American waterways through use in aquariums and aquascapes .
What is the difference between Limnobium laevigatum and frogbit?
Limnobium laevigatum, or Smooth Frogbit can be distinguished from Limnobium spongia, American frogbit, by flower and leaf characteristics as well as range. American frogbit in general has more cordate-based floating leaves, while smooth frogbit generally has more spatulate floating leaves. The flowers of both species vary greatly over their ranges.
What is the shape of the leaves of L laevigatum?
L. laevigatum is a floating or emergent aquatic herb. Leaves are subcircular, floating, glabrous and glossy above, with a thick layer of air-filled spongy tissue beneath, base rounded or shallowly cordate. Juvenile plants grow in rosettes of floating leaves that lie prostrate upon the water surface.
Is Lake laevigatum still in the US?
Although now regulated and subject to eradication in California, L. laevigatum is still grown and sold by the aquatic nursery plant trade. This species has the potential to spread into a number of states in the USA. A weed risk assessment by USDA-APHIS (2013) for L. laevigatum rated this species as ‘high risk and a ‘major invader’.
What does Limnobium spongia look like?
Limnobium spongia (American Frogbit) is a floating, aquatic perennial forming loose rosettes of thick and leathery, rounded or somewhat heart-shaped leaves, 1-3 in. across (2-7 cm). The younger leaves tend to be glossy bright green above and reddish underneath.
What is the scientific name of Spongia?
Spongia is a genus of marine sponges in the family Spongiidae, originally described by Linnaeus in 1759, containing more than 60 species. Some species, including Spongia officinalis, are used as cleaning tools, but have mostly been replaced in that use by synthetic or plant material.