LITTORELLA UNIFLORA (L.) ASCHERSON: A REVIEW

Littorella uniflora (L.) Ascherson, a member of Plantaginaceae family, belongs to a group of isoetids – small, slow-growing, evergreen aquatic plants. They are characterized by strong and stiff basal leaves and a large amount of root biomass. Oligotrophic and mesotrophic freshwaters are typical habitats for this plant. L. uniflora is a boreal subatlantic European species. It is spread over whole western and northern Europe including the United Kingdom and Ireland. Austria, Czech Republic, and Poland lie on the southeast border of L. uniflora distribution. In the Czech Republic, as well as in the Netherlands or Ireland, the number of suitable habitats is rapidly decreasing. Therefore it is important to understand the needs of this macrophyte in order to propose quality rescue management to restore its population. This paper gives brief information about biology and ecological adaptations of L. uniflora. It also focuses on threats, distribution, and management at some of its current localities in the Czech Republic.