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Lemna gibba - L.                
                 
Common Name Gibbous Duckweed
Family Lemnaceae
Synonyms
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Still waters in Britain[17]. Eutrophic, quiet waters in temperate regions with mild winters[270].
Range Temperate areas in Europe, including Britain, to the Himalayas, Africa, S. and N. America.
Edibility Rating  
Medicinal Rating  
Care
Water Plants Full sun

Summary       

Physical Characteristics       
 icon of manicon of flower
Lemna gibba is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in). The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant)


Suitable pH: neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water.
Lemna gibba Gibbous Duckweed


Lemna gibba Gibbous Duckweed
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fice
   
Habitats       
 Pond;
Edible Uses                                         
Edible Parts: Leaves.
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[270]. The leaves are cultivated in Israel foe use as a salad or vegetable[270].
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.



None known
Other Uses
None known
Cultivation details                                         
Requires a sunny position in still water that is rich in nitrates and lime[200]. Duckweed can be a troublesome pond weed though it is easily controlled by simply scooping it out[56, 200]. This scooped out material makes an excellent addition to the compost heap. The growing plant is a good food source for fish and birds, as well as providing cover for creatures in the pond[200]. Although it is towards the limit of its climatic range in Britain, it often flowers here if growing in a sheltered sunny position[17]. It over-winters in temperate areas by means of resting buds which sink to the bottom of the pond in the late autumn and rise again in the spring[200].
                                                                                 
Propagation                                         
Seed - we have no information on this species but, since it spreads so rapidly by division, it really needs no extra help once it is in a pond.
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Expert comment                                         
 
      
Author                                         
L.
                                                                                 
Botanical References                                         
17270
                                                                                 
Links / References                                         

[17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[56]Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants.
Deals with a wide range of plants for temperate areas (and indoor aquaria) with quite a lot of information on cultivation techniques.
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[270] Flora of N. America
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.

Readers comment                                         
 
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