Limnobium spongia (Bosc) Rich. ex Steud.

American Frog's Bit; American Sponge plant

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

American Frog's Bit is a native herbaceous perennial in the Tape-Grass family (Hyfrocharitaceae). It can be found in scattered locations throughout Alabama, often in association with larger rivers. American Frog's Bit occurs in rivers and lakes, in sloughs, in gum or cypress ponds, and in beaver ponds. It is an aquatic plant, either free floating or stranded on mud. It is colonial by stolons. Leaves are floating or raised above the water’s surface. The form a rosette. They are cordate to reniform in outline, petiolate, entire, and glabrous. The floating leaves are thick and spongy with aerenchyma tissue. Emersed leaves lack this tissue and are relatively thin. Flowers are solitary. American Frog's Bit is dioecious. Male flowers consist of 9-12 white stamens. Female flowers have 3 sepals and 3 petals that are white in color. The fruit is a capsule with 200+ small seed. After fertilization, the peduncles recurve and the fruit develop under water. The seed are released in a gelatinous mass. The foliage of American Frog’s Bit is eaten by turtles, muskrats, and deer. The gelatinous seed mass is consumed by Golden Eye, Green-Winged Teal, Mallard, Old Squaw, Northern Pintail, Ring-Necked Duck, and Wood Ducks. American Frog's Bit is sold as an aquarium and pool plant. Its tendency for form thick floating mats makes it undesirable in small ponds and recreation areas. It is listed as an invasive plant by the state of California.--A. Diamond

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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