The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ISSN 2307-8235 (online)IUCN 2008: T164121A84301330Scope: GlobalLanguage: English

Vallisneria spiralis, Tapegrass

Assessment by: Gupta, A.K.

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: Gupta, A.K. 2017. Vallisneria spiralis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017:e.T164121A84301330. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

Taxonomy

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Plantae Tracheophyta Liliopsida Hydrocharitales Hydrocharitaceae

Taxon Name:  Vallisneria spiralis L.

Synonym(s):

• Vallisneria aethiopica Fenzl• Vallisneria denseserrulata (Makino) Makino

Regional Assessments:

• Pan-Africa• Mediterranean• Europe

Common Name(s):

• English: Tapegrass• French: Vallisnérie en Spirale

Taxonomic Notes:

The taxonomy of Vallisneria is not yet satisfactorily clarified and there is confusion over the true

distribution of some species, which is further confounded by establishment of populations of various

taxa derived from horticulture.

Assessment Information

Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published: 2017

Date Assessed: June 9, 2016

Justification:

This species is classed as Least Concern as it is widespread with stable populations and does not face

any major threats.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

2014 – Least Concern (LC)http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T164121A43128002.en

2011 – Least Concern (LC)

2011 – Least Concern (LC)

Geographic Range

Range Description:

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vallisneria spiralis – published in 2017.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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Vallisneria spiralis is native to much of Africa north and south of the Sahara, to Europe, through the

Caucasus and the Middle East to Kazakhstan, the Indian Sub-continent, Myanmar and Thailand. In

Europe it is apparently native to central and eastern Europe and parts of the Mediterranean. It has been

introduced to Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom as well as

Mauritius and Reunion.

Country Occurrence:

Native: Afghanistan; Algeria; Bangladesh; Botswana; Bulgaria; Cambodia; Central African Republic;Chad; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Croatia; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea (EquatorialGuinea (mainland)); Ethiopia; France (France (mainland)); Ghana; Greece (Greece (mainland)); India;Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Israel; Italy (Italy (mainland)); Kazakhstan; Kenya; Lao People's DemocraticRepublic; Lebanon; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malawi; Mali; Montenegro;Mozambique; Myanmar (Myanmar (mainland)); Namibia (Namibia (main part)); Nigeria; Pakistan;Palestinian Territory, Occupied; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Portugal (Portugal (mainland));Romania; Russian Federation (South European Russia); Rwanda; Senegal; Serbia (Serbia); Sierra Leone;South Africa (Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape Province, Western Cape); Spain(Spain (mainland)); Sri Lanka; Sudan; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; Taiwan, Province of China;Tajikistan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Thailand; Turkey (Turkey-in-Asia, Turkey-in-Europe);Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine (Ukraine (main part)); Uzbekistan; Zambia; Zimbabwe

Introduced: Belgium; Czech Republic; Germany; Hungary; Mauritius (Mauritius (main island) - Native);Netherlands; New Zealand (North Is.); Réunion; United Kingdom (Great Britain)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vallisneria spiralis – published in 2017.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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Distribution MapVallisneria spiralis

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vallisneria spiralis – published in 2017.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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PopulationThis species is widespread and abundant throughout its known range. There is no detailed information

available on population size.

Current Population Trend:  Unknown

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

Vallisneria spiralis typically occurs in mesotrophic to eutrophic slow-flowing or lentic lowland water

bodies such as canals, ditches, rivers and occasionally lakes. It can be found in fresh or brackish water at

depths of 0.2-3.5 m.

Systems:  Freshwater

Use and TradeThe plant is demulcent, refrigerant, and stomachic. It is used for the treatment of leucorrhoea and is

made into a tea with sesame (Sesamum indicum) to increase appetite. Sometimes its young leaves are

eaten raw.

Vallisneria spiralis is very widely and frequently sold for aquarium and pond planting, to the extent that

accidental or intentional releases into the wild threaten to obscure trends in native populations.

ThreatsThere are no known past, ongoing, or future threats to this species.

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

There are no conservation measures in place and none needed.

Credits

Assessor(s): Gupta, A.K.

Reviewer(s): Luke, W.R.Q.

Contributor(s): Allen, D.J., Lansdown, R.V. & Beentje, H.J.

Facilitators(s) andCompiler(s):

Maiz-Tome, L.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vallisneria spiralis – published in 2017.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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BibliographyChen J. Hoch, P. and Raven, P.H. 2011. Flora of China Vol. 13: Epilobium. Available at:http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=2.

Cook, C.D.K. 1996. Aquatic Plant Book. SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam/New York.

Duke, J.A. 2010. Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/ethnobot.pl. (Accessed: 20 January).

Ho, P.H. 1999. Cay Co Vietnam (An illustrated Flora of Vietnam). Nha Xuat Ban Tre, Vietnam.

IUCN. 2017. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017-1. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.

Kress, W.J., DeFilipps, R.A., Farr, E. and Kyi, D.Y.Y. 2003. A checklist of the trees, shrubs, herbs, andclimbers of Myanmar. Washington, D.C.

Le, D.D. undated. Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Introduction. Ramsar, Gland.

Maxwell, J.F. 2009. Vegetation and vascular flora of the Mekong River, Kratie and Steung TrengProvinces, Cambodia. Maejo International Journal of Science and Technology 3(1): 143-211.

NMNH. 2011. A Checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs, and Climbers of Myanmar. Contributions from theUnited States National Herbarium. Available at: http://botany.si.edu/myanmar/checklistNames.cfm.(Accessed: 4 August 2011).

Santisuk, T. and Larsen, K. (eds). 2001. Flora of Thailand - Volume 7 Part 3. Flora of Thailand, pp. 351-654. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok.

Simpson, D. (ed.). 1989. Hydrocharitaceae. In: R.M. Polhill (ed.), Flora of Tropical East Africa, pp. 29.Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Symoens J.J. 1997. Hydrocharitaceae. In: Edwards, Sebsebe & Hedberg (ed.), Flora of Ethiopia andEritrea, Addis Ababa.

Symoens J.J. 2009. Hydrocharitaceae. Flora Zambesiaca 12, 2, pp. 18-57. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

Udomsri, C., Premcharoen, S., Thawatphan, C., Vidthayanon, C., and Vajrodaya, S. 2005. CommunityStructure of Aquatic Plants in Bung Khong Long, Nongkhai Province, A Ramsar Site of Thailand. KasetsartJournal (Natural Sciences) 39: 64-75.

Zungsontiporn, S. undated. Global invasive plants in Thailand and its status and a case study ofHydrocotyle umbellata L. Department of Agriculture, Bangkok.

CitationGupta, A.K. 2017. Vallisneria spiralis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017:e.T164121A84301330. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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External Resources

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vallisneria spiralis – published in 2017.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vallisneria spiralis – published in 2017.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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Appendix

Habitats(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Habitat Season SuitabilityMajorImportance?

15. Artificial/Aquatic & Marine -> 15.2. Artificial/Aquatic - Ponds (below8ha)

- Unknown -

5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.7. Wetlands (inland) - Permanent FreshwaterMarshes/Pools (under 8ha)

- Suitable Yes

5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.6. Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/IntermittentFreshwater Lakes (over 8ha)

- Suitable Yes

5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.1. Wetlands (inland) - PermanentRivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls)

- Suitable Yes

Conservation Actions in Place(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place

In-Place Research, Monitoring and Planning

Action Recovery plan: No

Systematic monitoring scheme: No

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Conservation sites identified: Yes, over part of range

Occur in at least one PA: No

Area based regional management plan: No

Invasive species control or prevention: Unknown

In-Place Species Management

Harvest management plan: No

Successfully reintroduced or introduced beningly: No

Subject to ex-situ conservation: No

In-Place Education

Subject to recent education and awareness programmes: No

Included in international legislation: No

Subject to any international management/trade controls: No

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vallisneria spiralis – published in 2017.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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Additional Data Fields

Distribution

Lower elevation limit (m): 1

Upper elevation limit (m): 1850

Population

Population severely fragmented: No

Habitats and Ecology

Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: No

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vallisneria spiralis – published in 2017.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ISSN 2307-8235 (online)IUCN 2008: T164121A84301330Scope: GlobalLanguage: English

The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species

Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens

Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;

Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vallisneria spiralis – published in 2017.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164121A84301330.en

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