waterwheel plant
(Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. )

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Overview

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Waterwheel is submerged aquatic plant closely related to sundews (Drosera spp.) and Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula). Its leaves are in whorls and the leaf tips are fitted with scoop-like traps. It is a carnivorous plant that catches animal prey through an active trap mechanism - traps snap shut when triggered by prey. Traps number up to 200 per plant and researchers estimate that up to 80% of the traps may contain prey at any given time. These traps catch untold numbers of insects and other animals, giving scientists great concern about waterwheel's effect on food webs and rare invertebrate species. It is native to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Japan, Korea. It is listed as "Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In its native range, waterwheel has declined to only 50 confirmed extant locations today. It was first documented as an invasive plant in 2014 in Virginia at Fort A.P. Hill, in Caroline County by Kevin Heffernan, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Selected Images

Maps

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Invasive Listing Sources

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• Maryland Aquatic Nuisance Species Plan
• Maryland Invasive Species Council - Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
• Mid-Atlantic Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species
• National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
• New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
• Virginia Invasive Plant Species List

References

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Common Name Reference: PLANTS Database

Scientific Name Reference: PLANTS Database