WATER LETTUCE

WHAT IS WATER LETTUCE?

• Water lettuce is a floating plant.
• occurs in lakes, rivers and canals, occasionally forming large dense mats.
• Prevents boating
• very thick leaves
• light dull green with hairy ridged leaves.

FACTS ABOUT WATER LETTUCE

• It came from Africa or South America
• Its introduction to the US was accidental

HOW DOES IT REPRODUCE?

• The flowers bud from the parent plant and disconnect later on
• Process repeats creating many plants

NATURAL PREDATORS

• Otters
• Turtles

THREAT OF WATER LETTUCE

• clog waterways, making boating, fishing & all other water activities impossible
• greatly reducing oxygen levels in the water
• clean your boat before you leave the ramp
• Transporting plant fragments on boats is the main introduction route to new lakes and rivers.

Where water lettuce is found