Pilularia globulifera. Pillwort.
Life-form & Growth Form:
Hydrophyte/hemicryptophyte. Herbaceous perennial. Rhizomatous, rhizome far-creeping.
Flowering period:
June to August.
Habitats:
Shallow margins of lakes, canals, ponds and slow-flowing rivers. Wet grasslands. Submerged for at least part of the year. A bare wetland margin specialist, therefore some poaching and waterside vegetation grazing by livestock beneficial.
Threats:
Historic lowering of water levels within Lough Neagh. Eutrophication of lough & river water through agricultural run-off. Loss and fragmentation of marginal wet grasslands as land drained and reclaimed for agricultural use. Under-grazing, leading to encroachment of taller wetland forbs and scrub.
Static distribution map:
