Identification and Reproduction

Identification:

• Yellow floating heart is a herbaceous, perennial, aquatic plant that roots at the bottom of waterbodies. 
• Floating leaves were cordate shaped, ranging from 3-15 cm wide and green to yellow-green in colour. Undersides of leaves were purple. Leaves also had slightly wavy margins and attached to underwater rhizomes. 

• It produces bright yellow flowers that sit above water on green stalks. Each individual flower is composed of 5 petals. Blooms occur from July to September. 

Reproduction:

• Reproduces vegetatively through underwater stolons. If broken off it can reroot and produce a new shoot. 
• It also produces seeds that are flat, oval with tiny hairs. These hairs help them float as well as attach onto objects or animals for further dispersal. 

Habitat & Ecology

• Grows well in slow moving waters so it can anchor itself to the ground. It is common in lakes, rivers, ponds and marshes. 
• It will also take over ditches, canals, waterways and dikes. 
• Typically found in eutrophic, alkaline waters that are under 3 m deep. 

Impacts

Social: 

• Large infestations will inhibit recreational activities such as swimming, boating and fishing. 
• It can also block irrigation canals. 
• Its presence can also change the aesthetics of the waterbody.

Ecological: 

• Forms dense mats that will out shade native aquatic species. 
• Reduces biodiversity. 
• As it slows water flow make the water stagnant and lower dissolved oxygen levels. 
• Can disrupt the food web. 

Management

Prevention is a high priority for this species. 

• Refrain from planting and distributing this plant. 
• Never dispose of unwanted aquarium material in natural waterbodies. 
• If you suspect a plant may be yellow floating heart, report it. 

Resources

For more details check out the Invasive Species Compendium datasheet on Nymphoides peltata (yellow floating heart). 

Header photo (Krzysztof Ziarnek).