Apium inundatum (L.) Richb. f.

Native, AXIOPHYTE

Lesser Marshwort is a perennial herb that occurs in permanent shallow water in streams, ditches, ponds, canals and backwaters, and in sites which are subject to periodic desiccation, such as the edges of lakes, pools, reservoirs and dune-slacks. It is confined to oligotrophic or mesotrophic habitats, and most sites are base-poor. Reproduction is by seed (M. Southam in Preston et al, 2002)

In Norfolk, Lesser Marshwort is uncommon but widely scattered in both the east and west of the county. It is an elusive plant mainly in ponds and other shallow standing water, often in the draw-down zone. It is probably somewhat under-recorded. It was only re-recorded in one of the eleven locations where it was found during the period 1987-1999 (though these may not all have been revisited) but there have been eight new found locations since then (though, of course, these may not all have been visited during the earlier period). It is therefore difficult to assess change, or indeed, to decide whether it qualifies as scarce or not!