Lesser Water-plantain
Baldellia ranunculoides
Baldellia ranunculoides, the lesser water-plantain, is a species of flowering plant in the family Alismataceae.
41
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldellia_ranunculoides
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Alismatales
Family
Alismataceae
Genus
Baldellia
Lesser Water-plantain belongs to the family Alismataceae, order Alismatales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Baldellia ranunculoides, the lesser water-plantain, is a species of flowering plant in the family Alismataceae.
Lesser Water-plantain is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of shallow freshwater wetlands through agricultural intensification, urban development, and water management practices. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in water levels and quality, as well as eutrophication from agricultural runoff and pollution.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Baldellia ranunculoides is found along the Atlantic and Baltic coast of western and northern Europe, and along the Mediterranean coasts of southern Europe, Turkey and North Africa. Recently found in eastern Newfoundland, Bristol's Hope barachois, Avalon Peninsula, the only location in North America. May have been introduced by a float (Sarracenia magazine, Newfoundland and Labrador Wildflower...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Lesser Water-plantain is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of shallow freshwater wetlands through agricultural intensification, urban development, and water management practices. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in water levels and quality, as well as eutrophication from agricultural runoff and pollution.
Habitat loss and fragmentation from agricultural conversion
Water level fluctuations and hydrological changes
Climate change affecting wetland hydrology
Eutrophication and water quality degradation
Urban development and infrastructure projects
Found in 41 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (EN).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | NTNear Threatened | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | NTNear Threatened | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Lesser Water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/lesser-water-plantain