Q: Aldrovanda: range and conservation status


Aldrovanda


Aldrovanda A: Aldrovanda vesiculosa occurs in tropical Africa (in the Okavango Swamp, Botswana, although it is long since it was last seen there), Asia, Australia, Europe, and Timor. Noteworthy sites that have been studied or for which clones are in horticulture, are in the Ukraine, Poland, Japan, Czech Republic, and Australia.

It has been driven to extinction in Bangladesh, Denmark, France, Germany, and Italy. It was nearly lost in Japan, but heroic conservation efforts saved it there at Houzouji Pond, a national preserve in Hanyu City, Saitama Prefecture. The cause for the rapid extirpation of this plant throughout most of its range is habitat destruction and degrading water quality from agriculture and other human activities.

In Australia, it occurs in many range segments found along coastal regions. Commonly grown Australian strains are:
South of Sydney, NSW
South of Darwin, NT
Kimberley, WA
Leach Lagoon (near Katherine), NT
Esperance Bay, WA
Armidale, NSW
Girraween Lagoon, NT


Unfortunately, some people have sought to step beyond enjoying this plant in horticulture, and have introduced it to a number of wildland sites (especially in the mid-Atlantic states of the USA). It may turn into an invasive species itself, as it shows many of the characteristics of an invasive. Alas.

Page citations: Breckpot, C. 1997; Degreef, J.D. 1997; Kondo, K. et al. 1997; Rice, B.A. 2006a; Schlauer, J. 1997, 2002; personal observations.