Floating water chestnut
Alert
Be on the lookout for floating water chestnut and report any sightings immediately.
Reporting options
- Report online.
- Phone Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
- Phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
Floating water chestnut
© John Randall Creative Commons
Floating water chestnut flower
© Leslie Mehrhoff Creative Commons
Floating water chestnut fruit
© Leslie Mehrhoff Creative Commons
Floating water chestnut infestation
© Leslie Mehrhoff Creative Commons
Native to South East Asia, floating water chestnut is an invasive aquatic plant with triangular leaves, white flowers and a 4-horned nut. Although it has never been found in Queensland, floating water chestnut could become a serious problem in lakes, dams and reservoirs if introduced.
Scientific name
Trapa spp.
Description
- Floating aquatic plant
- Leaves are triangular, waxy
- Flowers have 4 white petals, centred rosette
- Fruit is 4-horned nut containing 1 seed
- Seed pods are hard, sharp
Habitat
- Prefers lakes, dams, reservoirs and mudflats.
Distribution
- Not known to occur in Queensland.
Animals affected
- Humans
Impacts
Environmental
- If introduced, floating water chestnut could become a serious problem in Queensland's lakes, dams and reservoirs.
Social
- Sharp seed pods cause painful injuries if stepped on.
How it is spread
- Spreads by seed.
Prevention
Control
- Before undertaking any preventative or control actions, contact us online, by phone or in person.
Legal requirements
- Floating water chestnut is a prohibited invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014. You must not:
- keep it
- move it
- give it away
- sell it
- release it into the environment.
If you do any of these, penalties may apply.
- You must not take any action that is reasonably likely to exacerbate the biosecurity threat posed by floating water chestnut.
- You must take any action that is reasonably likely to minimise the biosecurity threat posed by floating water chestnut.
- You must report any sightings immediately using 1 of these methods:
- Report online.
- Phone Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
- Phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
Further information
- Contact us online, by phone or in person.