Yellow Floating Heart

Nymphoides peltata

Description

Yellow floating heart is a perennial, water lily-like plant that carpets the water surface with long-stalked heart-shaped leaves. The leaves have slightly wavy margins and purplish undersides. Each flower stalk has two to five bright yellow flowers about an inch or so in diameter. Each flower has five petals with a distinctive fringe along the edges of the petals. The petals are arranged like the spokes of a wheel.

Habitat

Slow-moving rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and ponds

Distribution

Two sites in Oregon (Lane and Washington Counties) and along Spokane River near Spokane, Washington

Impacts

Mats create areas of low oxygen levels; impacts fish and wildlife habitat, recreation and water quality; out-competes native and beneficial plant species; prohibits fish, swimmers, and canoes from passing through

Dispersal Methods

Seeds and stolons, escaped plant fragments, aquarium or pond-plant release

Prevention

Dispose of unwanted aquarium or ornamental pond plants in the trash; do not throw them in a body of water. Rise mud and/or debris from equipment and wading gear and drain any water from boats before leaving the launch area. Remove plant fragments from equipment and boats. Use native plants in ornamental ponds.

Listings

ODA's A List and OISC 100 Most Dangerous Invaders

Factsheets

Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board Fact Sheet
Spokane County Noxious Weed Control Board Fact Sheet

Photos

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Nymphoides+peltata

Distribution Map

Distribution in Oregon
Distribution in Washington

CWMA Warnings

Upper Willamette

Four County

North Coast

Mid-Coast

WEEDIN