Limosella vesiculosa

Limosella vesiculosa, commonly called the Basotho mudwort, is a small aquatic perennial. The genus forms part of the Scrophulariaceae or snapdragon family. The stems root in the mud under shallow, fresh water. The leaves and flowers often float on the surface of the water. The plant bears small, simple, stalked, green leaves that are round, elliptic, ovate or heart-shaped.

The species distribution is in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in Lesotho. The photo was taken in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg.

The habitat is wetland and moist areas next to mountain rock pools, in such pools or in slow-moving streams. The plants are said to be eaten by ice rats in the Drakensberg. The habitat population is considered of least concern early in the twenty first century.

There are about eight species of Limosella indigenous to South Africa, as well as at least two exotic species (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).