Short Communication

First confirmed record of Nymphoides peltata (S.G.Gmel.) Kuntze (Menyanthaceae) naturalised in southern Africa

Michael D. Cheek
Bothalia | Vol 48, No 1 | a2258 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v48i1.2258 | © 2018 Michael D. Cheek, Jorge L. Renteira | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 03 May 2017 | Published: 08 May 2018

About the author(s)

Michael D. Cheek, Invasive Species Programme, South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Nymphoides peltata is a hydrophyte with a nymphaeid growth form and is known to be an invader of aquatic ecosystems.
Objectives: To document the presence of N. peltata outside of cultivation in southern Africa.
Method: Herbarium vouchers of newly collected material were compared against the vouchers of indigenous members of the genus and with the relevant botanical literature to confirm the identity of the species.
Results: Nymphoides peltata is confirmed as occurring outside of cultivation for the first time in South Africa. The species was recorded from two dams adjacent to the Umgeni River in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
Conclusion: This is the first record of a non-indigenous species of the Menyanthaceae family for South Africa outside of cultivation and adds to our knowledge of the alien aquatic flora of the region. Nymphoides peltata is listed as a Category 1a species, which means that it should be eradicated.

Keywords

aquatic weeds; naturalised; climatic modelling

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Crossref Citations

1. Plant traits and environment: floating leaf blade production and turnover of Nymphoides peltata (S.G. Gmel.) O. Kuntze (Menyanthaceae)
Peter F. Klok, Gerard van der Velde
PeerJ  vol: 10  first page: e13976  year: 2022  
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13976