Water Lobelia
Lobelia dortmanna
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobelia_dortmanna
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Family
Campanulaceae
Genus
Lobelia
Water Lobelia belongs to the family Campanulaceae, order Asterales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Water Lobelia faces severe threats from habitat degradation due to eutrophication and acidification of its specialized aquatic environments. The species' extremely narrow ecological requirements make it highly vulnerable to water quality changes, while climate change and human activities continue to degrade the pristine lake conditions it depends upon for survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) freshwater lakes with sandy or gravelly bottoms, typically growing submerged in shallow waters at depths of 0.5-3 meters. Requires pristine water conditions with low nutrient levels and specific pH ranges in clear, cold northern temperate lakes.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Water Lobelia faces severe threats from habitat degradation due to eutrophication and acidification of its specialized aquatic environments. The species' extremely narrow ecological requirements make it highly vulnerable to water quality changes, while climate change and human activities continue to degrade the pristine lake conditions it depends upon for survival.
Climate change altering lake water chemistry
Eutrophication from agricultural runoff and sewage
Habitat loss from shoreline development
Lake acidification from atmospheric pollution
Recreational activities disturbing lake sediments
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | 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). Water Lobelia (Lobelia dortmanna). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/water-lobelia