Nymphoides peltata

Yellow Floating Heart

NOT NATIVE TO MAINE - INVASIVE

Habitat: Yellow floating heart is found within the floating-leaved plant community. It can grow in various substrates (sand, mud, gravel, etc.), in littoral areas ranging from the damp mud along the waters edge to water depths of 4 meters. One established, yellow floating heart may occur in dense patches, out-competing native species and interfering with recreation.

Description: Yellow floating heart is a bottom-rooted perennial that produces branched stolons just below the water surface. Each rooted stem supports a loosely branched group of several leaves. The leaves are nearly round to heart-shaped. (Note that all heart-shaped floating leaved plants that are native to Maine produce only one leaf per rooted stem.) The leaves are typically wavy (shallowly scalloped) along the outer edges and have purplish undersides. Leaves average 3 to10 cm in diameter. The flowers are showy (3 to 4 cm in diameter), bright yellow with five distinctly fringed petals. They are held above the water surface on long stalks with 1 to 5 flowers per stalk. The flowers are larger and showier than those of the native small yellow pond lily. The fruit capsule is 2.5 cm long and contains numerous seeds. The seeds are oval and flat (about 3.5 mm long) and hairy along their outer edges.

Origin and Range: Yellow floating heart is native to parts of Europe and Asia. It is not native to North America and was introduced to this country as an ornamental pond species. Yellow floating heart is now present in Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and New York.

Annual Cycle: Yellow floating heart flowers between June and August. Reproduction may occur vegetatively by rhizome or by seed. Many floating leaved plants lack the ability to propagate by stem fragmentation, but in the case of yellow floating heart, broken leaves with attached stem parts will form new plants. Viable seeds are produced abundantly and germinate readily. Seed hairs help the seeds float and aid their attachment to waterfowl, increasing possibility of spread to new areas.

Look Alikes: May be confused with European frogbit, small yellow pond lily, little floating heart, watershield, spatterdock, and fragrant water lily