Dotted Watermeal
Wolffia borealis (Engelm.) Landolt
Wolffia borealis is a species of aquatic flowering plant in the Araceae family. Native to North America, it is found in regions including Canada and the United States, such as Alberta, California, and Vermont. This plant forms surface mats on still water bodies like ponds. It is a minute plant, lacking true leaves, stems, and roots. The green structure is up to 1.2 mm long, with one rounded and one pointed end. A single stamen and pistil are located on the flattened top. It is edible and nutritionally valuable.
Description
Wolffia borealis (Engelm.) Landolt, commonly known as Dotted Watermeal or northern watermeal, is a small aquatic plant in the Araceae family. It is distributed across the Nearctic region, including parts of the United States and Canada. The plant grows in dense mats on the surface of calm water. Its structure is simple, with no distinct leaves, stems, or roots. The plant body is green, measuring up to 1.2 mm in length, with one end rounded and the other pointed. A single reproductive structure containing both stamen and pistil is present on the top. As with other Wolffia species, it is edible and provides nutritional value.
Other common names
Dotted WatermealNorthern WatermealWatermeal
Distribution
Nearctic · Vermont-US · Global · Alberta · British Columbia · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Nebraska · New Hampshire · New York · Ontario · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Québec · South Dakota · Tennessee · Utah · Vermont · Virginia
Synonyms
Wolffia brasiliensis var. borealis
