Taxonomy
Pistia stratiotes | Water-lettuce
Distribution
Status
Legal status
Third Schedule listed species under Regulations 49 & 50 in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. (Note: Regulation 50 not yet enacted). Listed as a schedule 9 species under Articles 15 & 15A of the Wildlife Order (Northern Ireland) 1985 (Article 15A not yet enacted).
Regulated invasive species of Union concern under the European Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species [1143/2014]
Invasiveness
Non-native species - Low risk of Impact
Irish status
Absent
NAPRA Ireland risk assessed
Yes: This
species underwent a Non-native species APplication
based Risk Analysis in 2014.
Overall
risk of this species to Ireland is categorised as: MINOR with a HIGH level of confidence.
Overall conclusion summary: The overall risk of Pistia stratiotes becoming invasive in Ireland is considered to be low. At present, Pistia stratiotes is unlikely to establish sustainable populations except in the vicinity of localised warm water discharges (e.g. hot water outflows from fuel-powered electricity generating stations). If this occurs some local impacts are possible. Sporadic transient populations or ephemeral populations are possible in suitable habitats as a result of human-mediated introductions, and if locally abundant, could cause some impacts until they die off.
View
the full risk assessment: http://nonnativespecies.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Pistia-stratiotes-Water-Lettuce1.pdf
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2025
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