Frogbit is a free-floating aquatic that bears 3-petalled white flowers. These are 20-30mm across and the petals are crinkly with a yellow spot at the base. The sepals are small. Frogbit is a dioecious species – the male flowers are 2-3 together, in a spathe of 2 bracts and they have 9-12 yellow stamens without anthers. The female flowers are solitary and have 6 styles. The round, kidney-shaped leaves are floating, 3-6 cm across with long stalks. The roots of the plants hang down in the water and produce over-wintering buds. These detach and settle into the mud rising to the surface in spring to form fresh plants. Frogbit’s habitat is still water, ditches, shallow ponds and sheltered canals. It is a native perennial, more common in central and parts of east of Ireland.
Frogbit flowers in July and August. It belongs to the Frogbit/Hydrocharitaceae family.
I first saw this plant in one of the ponds created by a good friend in County Wicklow in July 2020. He had been given one of the over-wintering buds. I photographed it at the same time.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
