Common Duckweed
(Lemna minor)
Common Duckweed (Lemna minor)
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Photo by: Barbarossa~commonswiki | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Uploader: Barbarossa~commonswiki | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Eendekroos_dicht_bijeen.JPG | Notes: Transferred from Flickr via #flickr2commons |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Lemna minor, commonly known as Common Duckweed, is a deciduous perennial aquatic herb native to ponds, marshes, and slow-moving streams in temperate regions worldwide, including the Northern Hemisphere and South Africa. It is characterized by its small, free-floating thalli, typically with one to four leaves, each bearing a single root submerged in water. As the plant grows, it divides to form new individuals. Duckweed rarely flowers, and when it does, the flowers are minuscule, about 1 mm in diameter, with a cup-shaped scale, one ovule, and two stamens. The plant’s ability to adhere to birds facilitates its spread to new water bodies. Common Duckweed thrives in a pH range of 6.5 to 8 and can tolerate temperatures between 6 and 33 °C. It forms dense mats on the surface of still waters under favorable conditions. In colder climates, it produces turions to overwinter on the pond bottom, resurfacing and resuming growth in spring.
Common Duckweed is valued for its rapid growth and ability to cover water surfaces, which can reduce algae growth by limiting light penetration. It is used in water gardens and as a natural water purifier. However, its invasive potential must be considered outside its native range. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and requires an aquatic environment. It is low maintenance, but its rapid growth can require regular thinning to prevent excessive coverage of water surfaces.CC BY-SA 4.0
Common Duckweed is valued for its rapid growth and ability to cover water surfaces, which can reduce algae growth by limiting light penetration. It is used in water gardens and as a natural water purifier. However, its invasive potential must be considered outside its native range. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and requires an aquatic environment. It is low maintenance, but its rapid growth can require regular thinning to prevent excessive coverage of water surfaces.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0-0.3 feet
- Width: 1-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Aquatic
- Drainage: Standing
Common Uses
Bird Garden, Low Maintenance, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Ponds, marshes, and slow-moving streams in temperate regions worldwide
Other Names
Common Names: Duckweed , Least Duckweed , Lesser Duckweed , Liden Andemad , Kleine Wasserlinse , Pikkulimaska , Petite Lentille Deau , Andemat , Klein Kroos , Andmat
Scientific Names: Lemna minor , Lemna minima , Hydrophace minor , Lemna cyclostasa , Lemna conjugata , Lemna rwandensis , Lemna conjugata publ , Lemna minor subsp. minima , Lemna minor subsp. oxymitra , Lemna minor var. minima
GBIF Accepted Name: Lemna minor L.