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The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.

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Common name: yellow floating-heart

Synonyms and Other Names: Limnanthemum peltatum S.G. Gmel., Nymphoides nymphaeoides (L.) Britton, yellow floating-heart, yellow floatingheart, floating heart, fringed water lily, entire marshwort

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification:  

Stem/Roots: Nymphoides peltata is a rooted, perennial species with long branched stolons (up to 2 meters) that lie just below the water surface. Multi-leaved "plantlets" are produced at the nodes along with roots.

Leaves: Leaves are floating, round to heart-shaped (cordate) (3-12 cm in diameter) which resemble those of waterlilies (Godfrey and Wooten 1981; Newman 2000). Leaves are green to yellow-green and have slightly wavy margins. Undersides of leaves are often purple. 

Flowers: Two to five bright yellow, five-petaled flowers (2-4 cm in diameter) arise from each node as simple umbels with shallowly fringed petals borne above the water surface. Plants flower between May and October depending on water temperature (Godfrey and Wooten 1981; Sivarajan and Joseph 1993). 

Fruit/Seeds: Each flower produces one beaked capsule (2.5 cm), dispersing few to many smooth, flat, shiny seeds with margins of stiff hairs (Sivarajan and Joseph 1993).

Look-a-likes: Nymphoides cordata little floatingheart; Nuphar variegata yellow water lily

Size: 2 meters average stem length (Sivarajan and Joseph 1993)

Native Range: Eastern Asia and the Mediterranean (Stuckey 1973)

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Ecology: Nymphoides peltata is a perennial herb that grows in lakes, ponds, swamps and channels with slow-moving water (Campbell et al. 2010, Grosse and Mevi-Schutz 1987, IL DNR 2005). Nymphoides peltata can grow in water 0.5-4.0 m deep and it tolerates anaerobic environments (Grosse and Mevi-Schutz 1987, OISAP 2013). This species can also survive on mudflats (Campbell et al. 2010). The growing season for is this species is April – late October; leaves have a 23 – 43 day life span (IL DNR 2005). Nymphoides peltata overwinters as dormant rhizomes (IL DNR 2005).

The small fruits contain hairy seeds that float in the water and can attach to animals (Benson et al. 2004, IL DNR 2005). Research by Cook (1990) shows dispersal mechanisms may include transport by waterfowl as well as chain-like rafts of floating seed. This species can also reproduce vegetatively; plant fragments (from nodes and leaves) and rhizomes can develop into new plants (MISIN 2013, OSIAP 2013).

Means of Introduction: Commonly cultivated as an ornamental species for ponds, N. peltata has been both accidentally and intentionally released into lakes and rivers with some nuisance populations becoming established (Benson et al. 2004). Secondary infestations may result as seed and fragments of plant segments disperse downstream or within a lake (Cook 1990; MISIN 2013).

Status: Established where mentioned above.

Impact of Introduction:

Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...

Ecological	Economic	Human Health	Other

Nymphoides peltata typically develops monotypic dense patches which may exclude other native plants and create stagnant, low-oxygen conditions in the water below (DiTomaso and Healey 2003). These areas of stagnant waters can be an ideal location for mosquitos to breed (OISAP 2013). If the population of yellow floating heart is large enough, fish and other wildlife may be forced to relocate (CEH 2004). The mat-like patches impede recreational activities such as fishing, water skiing, swimming and boating. (CEH 2004, Lui et al. 2010, WI DNR 2012)

Nymphoides peltata can move nitrogen and phosphorus up from the sediment into the aboveground biomass and back down into the root structure during the winter (Brock et al. 1983). Areas dominated by N. peltata were associated with higher macroinvertebrate species richness, densities, and biomass than in areas without macrophytes (Brock and Van der Velde 1996), although this may be due to macrophyte structure and not strictly N. peltata.

Remarks: The first report of leaf spot caused by Septoria villarsiae on Nymphoides peltata was detected in a private pond near Buxton, York County, Maine (De Souza et al. 2021).

References: (click for full references)

Anderson, L.C. (curator). 2009. Herbarium Specimen Voucher Data, Florida State University (FSU), Herbarium. Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu/.

Benson, A. J., C.C. Jacono, P.L. Fuller, E. R. McKercher., and M. M. Richerson. 2004. Summary Report of Nonindigenous Aquatic Species in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington, Va. 145 pp.

Brock, T.C.M., M.C.M. Bongaerts, G.J.M.A. Heijnen, and J. H. F. G. Heijthuijsen. 1983. Nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation and cycling by Nymphoides peltata (Gmel.) O. Kuntze (Menyanthaceae). Aquatic Botany 17(3—4):189—214.

Brock, T.C.M., and G. Van der Velde. 1996. Aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure of a Nymphoides pelata-dominated and macrophyte-free site in an oxbow lake. Netherlands Journal of Aquatic Ecology 30(2-3):151-163.

Campbell, S., P. Higman, B. Slaughter, and E. Schools. 2010. A Field Guide to Invasive Plants of Aquatic and Wetland Habitats for Michigan. Michigan DNRE, Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 90 pp.

Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. 2015. EDDMapS: Early detection and distribution mapping system. The University of Georgia, Tifton, GA. http://www.eddmaps.org.

Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH). 2004. Information Sheet 6: Fringed Waterlily. Natural Environment Research Council, Centre for Aquatic Plant Management. 2 pp.

Consortium of California Herbaria. 2014. Consortium of California Herbaria. Consortium of California Herbaria, Berkeley, CA. http://www.gbif.org/dataset/4fa894f4-b6c6-4ec0-b816-9bb03b3ca106. Created on 01/10/2014. Accessed on 11/20/2015.

Cook, C. D. K. 1990. Seed dispersal of Nymphoides peltata (S.G. Gmelin) O. Kuntze (Menyanthaceae) Aquatic Botany. 37:352-340.

Cooperrider, T.S. 1995. The Dicotyledoneae of Ohio. Part 2: Linaceae through Campanulaceae. Ohio State University Press, Columbus, OH.

De Souza, M., R. Singh, N.E. Harms, J. McPhedran, and A.N. Smart. 2021. First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Septoria villarsiae on Nymphoides peltata in the United States. Plant Health Progress 22(2):157-158. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-12-20-0104-BR.

DiTomaso, J.M. and E.A. Healey. 2003. Aquatic and riparian weeds of the West.  University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources.  Oakland, California. 

Falck, M. and S. Garske. 2003. Invasive Non-native Plant Management During 2002. Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC), Odanah, WI. 68 pp.

Freeman, M. 2008. New local threat revealed. Mail Tribune, Medford, OR. 2008 (December 13). http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081213/NEWS/812130304/-1/NEWS02.

Godfrey, R.K., and J.W. Wooten. 1981. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of the Southeastern United States, dicotyledons. University of Georgia, Athens, GA.

Great Lakes Panel of Aquatic Nuisance Species (GLPANS). 2008. Prohibitied Species in the Great Lakes Region. 14 pp.

Grosse, W. and J. Mevi-Schutz. 1987. A beneficial gas transport system in Nymphoides peltata. American Journal of Botany 74(6): 947—952.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IL DNR). 2005. Aquatic Invasive Species: Yellow Floating Heart. 3 pp. Available http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/YELLOW_FLOATING_HEART.pdf.

iMapInvasives. 2012. iMapInvasives Oregon. The Nature Conservancy. http://www.imapinvasives.org/. Accessed on 04/09/2015.

Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE). 2013. Yellow floating heart: Nymphoides peltata (Gmel.) Kuntze. Available http://www.eddmaps.org/ipane/ipanespecies/aquatics/Nymphoides_peltata.htm. Accessed 29 April 2013.

IPANE. 2001. Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) at the University of Connecticut online database. http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/.

Kelly, J. and C. M. Maguire. 2009. Fringed Water Lily (Nymphoides peltata) Invasive Species Action Plan. Northern Ireland Environmental Ageny (NIEA) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) as part of Invasive Species Ireland. 14 pp.

Kucher, K. 2015. DNR removes high-threat aquatic invasive plant from Dearborn pond. Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Detroit, MI. http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153--365098--,00.html. Created on 09/18/2015. Accessed on 09/21/2015.

Les, D.H., and L.J. Mehrhoff. 1999. Introduction of nonindigenous aquatic vascular plants in southern New England: a historical perspective. Biological Invasions 1(2/3):281-300.

Loyola University Chicago. 2013. Illinois Database of Aquatic Non-native Species. GISIN, Fort Collins, CO. http://gisin.org/cwis438/websites/GISINDirectory/Occurrence_Result.php?ProjectID=391&WebSiteID=4. Created on 05/13/2015. Accessed on 05/13/2015.

Lui, K., M. Butler, M. Allen, E. Snyder, J. da Silva, B. Brownson, and A. Ecclestone. 2010. Field Guide to Aqautic Invasive Species: Identification, collection and reporting of aquatic invasive in Ontario waters. Minstry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada. 201 pp.

Michigan State University. 2015. Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN). Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. http://www.misin.msu.edu/browse/. Accessed on 12/04/2015.

Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN). 2013. Yellow floatingheart (Nymphoides peltata). Available http://www.misin.msu.edu/facts/detail.php?id=182. Accessed 29 April 2013.

Mills, E.L., J.H. Leach, J.T. Carlton, and C.L. Secor. 1993. Exotic species in the Great Lakes: a history of biotic crises and anthropogenic introductions. Journal of Great Lakes Research 19(1):1-54.

Missouri Botanical Garden. 2007. Missouri Botanical Garden. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO. http://www.gbif.org/dataset/7bd65a7a-f762-11e1-a439-00145eb45e9a. Created on 04/02/2007. Accessed on 11/20/2015.

Nelson, E.N., and R.W. Couch. 1985. Aquatic Plants of Oklahoma I: Submersed, Floating-leaved, and selected emergent macrophytes. Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, OK.

New York Invasive Species Council. 2010. Final report: a regulatory system for non-native species. Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY. 131 pp.

Newman, J. 2000. Fringed waterlily. Centre for Aquatic Plant Management, Reading, Berkshire, UK.

Northeast Aquatic Plant Management Society. 2009. Nor'Easter Newsletters. Northeast Aquatic Plant Management Society.

Ontario's Invasive Species Awareness Program (OISAP). 2013. Yellow Floating Heart: Nymphoides peltata. Available http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/plants-aquatic/yellow-floating-heart/. Accessed 29 April 2013.

Ornduff, R. 1970. Cytogeography of Nymphoides (Menyanthaceae). Taxon. 19:715-719.

Parsons, J. 2007. Washington Aquatic Plant Monitoring Database. Washington Department of Ecology, Lacey, WA. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/lakes/aquaticplants/index.html.

Pennsylvania Flora Database. 2011. Pennsylvania Flora Project. Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania (MOAR), Philadelphia, PA. http://www.paflora.org.

Reznicek, A.A. 1994. The disjunct coastal plain flora in the Great Lakes region. Biological Conservation. 68:203-215.

Richardson, R., L. Hipkins, J. Wethstone, R. Chandren, and R. Ritter. 2006. The Mid-Atlantic Aquatic Plant Management Newsletter. NCSU Aquatic Plant Management Program. 2 (3):3 pp. http://www.weedscience.ncsu.edu/aquaticweeds/newsletter.html (accessed 20 December 2007).

Sivarajan, V.V. and K.T. Joseph. 1993. The genus Nymphoides Seguier (Menyanthaceae) in India. Aquatic Botany. 45:145-170.

Stuckey, R.L. 1973. The introduction and distribution of Nymphoides peltatum (Menyanthaceae) in North America. Bartonia 42:14-23.

Takagawa, S., J. Nishihiro and I. Washitani. 2005.  Safe sites for establishment of Nymphoides peltata seedlings for recovering the population from the soil seed bank.  Ecological Research. 20(6): 661-667.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2008. PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center. http://plants.usda.gov.

University of Alabama Biodiversity and Systematics. 2007. Herbarium (UNA). University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. http://www.gbif.org/dataset/84f9770e-f762-11e1-a439-00145eb45e9a. Created on 04/03/2007. Accessed on 11/20/2015.

University of Arizona Herbarium. 2008. UA Herbarium. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. http://www.gbif.org/dataset/95b97882-f762-11e1-a439-00145eb45e9a. Created on 09/10/2008. Accessed on 11/20/2015.

University of Connecticut. 2011. CONN. University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. http://www.gbif.org/dataset/5288946d-5fcf-4b53-8fd3-74f4cc6b53fc. Created on 09/08/2011. Accessed on 11/20/2015.

University of Washington Burke Museum. 2007. Vascular Plant Collection - University of Washington Herbarium (WTU). University of Washington, Seattle, WA. http://www.gbif.org/dataset/8310f570-f762-11e1-a439-00145eb45e9a. Created on 04/03/2007. Accessed on 11/20/2015.

Virginia Botanical Associates. 2007. Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora. http://vaplantatlas.org/.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR). 2012. Yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata). Available http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/invasives/fact/yellowfloatingheart.html. Accessed 29 April 2013.

Wright, R., C. Tumer, C. Williams, and T. Sprenkle. 2006. WSSI Scientists Discover Non-Native Plants New To Virginia. Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. Gainesville, VA. 14 (7). http://www.wetlandstudies.com/fieldNotesArticle.cfm?id=25.

Other Resources:
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality identification video

Global Invasive Species Database

University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

Tippery Lab - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

US Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Risk Screening Summary for Nymphoides peltata

Author: Pfingsten, I.A., D.D. Thayer, L. Berent, and V. Howard.

Peer Review Date: 3/23/2016

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.