Duckweed
Lemna perpusilla Torr.
Lemna perpusilla, known as Duckweed, is a small aquatic plant in the Araceae family. It is native to parts of North America, including Quebec and the central and eastern United States, and has been introduced to other regions globally. This plant thrives in still or slow-moving water and is often found flowering and fruiting. The fronds are 1-4 mm long and 0.8-3.0 mm wide, with a root sheath wing 2-3 times as long as wide. The fruit is 0.7-1.0 mm long with a lateral winged margin, and the seed is 0.6-0.8 mm long, whitish, and has 35-70 indistinct ribs.
Description
Lemna perpusilla is a member of the Araceae family and is commonly referred to as Duckweed. It is characterized by small fronds that are 1-4 mm long and 0.8-3.0 mm wide, often with 2-3 papules on the upper surface above the node. The root sheath has a wing 2-3 times as long as wide. The plant frequently flowers and fruits, with the infructescence producing a fruit 0.7-1.0 mm long and 0.5-0.7 mm wide. The fruit has a lateral winged margin about 0.05 mm wide. The seed is 0.6-0.8 mm long, 0.4-0.6 mm thick, and has 5-7 subepidermal cell layers in the outer seed coat. It is native to parts of North America and has been introduced to various regions worldwide.
Other common names
DuckweedMinute DuckweedTiny Duckweed
Distribution
Quebec · Saskatchewan · Nearctic · MM · SC · EG · CU · BR · WS · Belgium · France · The Netherlands · Great Britain · DZ · CO · KH · TD · BT · KM · FM · VN · MU · SG · Vermont-US · CM · IN · GY · PG · IR · Global
Synonyms
Hydrophace perpusilla
