Plant Management in Florida Waters
Water lettuce
Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Pistia stratiotes
- Origin: South America
- Introduction:Colonial period, ship ballast (?)
- Aquatic community: Floating
- Habitat: Water surfaces
- Distribution: Peninsula, rare in panhandle
- Management effort: Maintenance control
- 2017 public waters / plant acres: 147 (32%) / 1,999
- 2017 Waters / acres controlled: Water lettuce 27 / 344. Lettuce / hyacinth mix 153 / 24,297.
Environmental and Economic Concerns
- Growth rate similar to water hyacinth – can double in a few weeks
- Reproduce by seeds and stolons
- Harbors mosquitoes
- Dense mats prevent air and light diffusion into water, consume oxygen
- displacing native plants, fish and wildlife
- preventing decomposition of detritus
- Increases sedimentation by shedding roots, leaves and shoots
- Rapid dispersal by wind and water movement
- Mats jam against bridges and reduce water flow at flood control structures
- Reduces property values and local tax revenues
