Aquatic Plants in Ireland – A Photographic Guide

This first ever book on aquatic plants in Ireland offers an easy to use photographic identification guide. Compiled by three widely experienced field ecologists, with the assistance of acknowledged experts on specific groups, it has been designed to help both the simply curious and the more experienced botanist. It can be used as a stand alone guide without the need to refer to more complex botanical books.

Aquatic Plants in Ireland – A Photographic Guide features a total of 401 species or taxa and hybrids across the algae, bryophytes and higher plants, and more than 1,200 full-colour photographs. The whole range of freshwater habitats are covered: lakes, reservoirs, ponds, canals, rivers, streams, ditches, bog pools, and wetlands.

Coverage extends from species that are likely to be encountered to less common species that are integral to particular habitats and communities. The book also includes invasive alien plant species, some of which are expanding their range  and having serious adverse effects on native habitats and native biodiversity.  Species are separated out based on the habitat zones in which they normally reside facilitating identification in the field and  providing an ecological context, reflecting how plant species adaptations match local habitat conditions.

Full-colour photographs show the plants in their natural habitats, while also highlighting key floristic features that can be used to separate closely related plant species. The broad ecology of each plant species is summarised and maps illustrate their national distribution.

Technical terms are only used where necessary and these are described in an illustrated Glossary.

Dr Ronan Matson, co-author and Research Officer at Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), comments that: “Aquatic environments are particularly vulnerable to threats posed by biodiversity loss, climate change, and the spread of invasive species.

“The first step in mitigating their impact is to accurately identify the species that exist within these fragile ecosystems.

“This comprehensive Irish aquatic plant encyclopedia is unique. And in it the diversity of our lakes, reservoirs, ponds, canals, rivers, streams, ditches, bog pools, and wetlands, are more than matched by the diverse plant species that call these habitats home.”