Asian watermeal
Wolffia globosa (Roxb.) Hartog & Plas
Wolffia globosa (Roxb.) Hartog & Plas, a species in the Araceae family, is known as Asian watermeal. Native to Asia, it has been introduced to the Americas and Africa. It grows in freshwater habitats, forming surface mats. The plant is very small, with a transparent green frond under a millimeter wide. It lacks leaves, stems, and roots. A study showed it can provide dietary protein and vitamin B12 when processed.
Description
Wolffia globosa is a tiny aquatic plant in the Araceae family. It is found in Asia and has been introduced to regions including the Americas and Africa. It thrives in still freshwater environments like ponds, lakes, and marshes. The plant has no leaves, stems, or roots, and its frond is less than a millimeter wide. A human study demonstrated that processed W. globosa can supply dietary protein and vitamin B12.
Other common names
Asian watermeal
Distribution
Australasian · Oriental (Indomalaya) · Palaearctic · TW · SG · AO · BR · Atlántico, Bolívar, Córdoba · Global · Caribe · Hawaii · Angola · Assam · Bangladesh · California · Cambodia · China South-Central · China Southeast · Colombia · Ecuador · Florida · Hainan · Illinois · India · Japan · Jawa · Kentucky · Korea · Laos · Lesser Sunda Is.
Synonyms
Lemna globosaTelmatophace cylindraceaWolffia schleideniiGrantia globosa
