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 2024

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Images