Ludwigia grandiflora | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Onagraceae |
Genus: | Ludwigia |
Species: | L. grandiflora |
Binomial name | |
Ludwigia grandiflora | |
Synonyms [1] | |
List
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Ludwigia grandiflora, the water primrose, is an aquatic plant of the order Myrtales. [2]
It is closely related and easily confused with Ludwigia hexapetala . [3] The two species can be distinguished at a chromosomal level, because L. grandiflora is hexaploid and L. hexapetala is decaploid. [4] However, they can be distinguished morphologically. L. grandiflora has villous hairs, smaller flowers and smaller pollen grains. [4] Some authorities consider that these differences are too slight to consider these different species and so separate these taxa as two varieties or two subspecies. [5] [6]
Ludwigia grandiflora has been listed on the List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern since 2016 [7] and in the United States it is on the South Carolina State-listed Noxious Weed list. [8] It out-competes other plants by forming dense mats at the margins and in ponds. [9] It is introduced to warm temperate areas of North America, Japan and Europe and has formed large stable populations, particularly in France. [10] As of summer 2024, the Portuguese city of Arganil announces measures against the species in its river Alva. [11]
Ludwigia grandiflora can, and does, produce viable seed, but it is also highly effective at vegetative reproduction and apparently recruitment of new plants from seed is low. [12] The large showy flowers attract a wide variety of insects. A study in Belgium, where L. grandiflora is introduced, showed that the flowers are visited by a wide variety of insects including bees, Lepidoptera, beetles and hoverflies. [13]