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Wolffia arrhiza - (L.)Horkel. ex Wimm.

Common Name Least Duckweed, Spotless watermeal
Family Araceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Floating on quiet waters[204]. A rare native of southern Britain, growing in still waters[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, to Asia.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Water Plants Full sun
Wolffia arrhiza Least Duckweed, Spotless watermeal


commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fice
Wolffia arrhiza Least Duckweed, Spotless watermeal
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Wolffia_arrhiza0.jpg

 

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Summary

Taxonomic Note: This genus was formerly classified in the family Lemnaceae. Modern classifications include it within the Araceae.


Physical Characteristics

 
Wolffia arrhiza is an evergreen Perennial.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year, in flower all year, and the seeds ripen all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Pond;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - cooked. An excellent flavour, they taste somewhat like a sweet cabbage[183]. The leaves are very nutritious, containing about 20% protein, 44% carbohydrate. 5% fat and are rich in vitamins A, B2, B6, C and nicotinic acid[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

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

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A pond plant, floating on the surface of the water, it requires a sunny position in still water that is rich in nitrates and lime[200]. At the limit of its climatic range in Britain and probably best grown in a cold water aquarium[200]. 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]. One of the smallest flowering plants in the world, it is cultivated as a vegetable in Burma, Laos and Thailand[183]. It has been recommended for commercial cultivation, especially in tropical areas, because of its rapid multiplication and high nutritional value[183]. Plant densities of over two million plants per square metre have been found[274].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but, since it can spread rapidly by division, it really needs no extra help once it is in a pond.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Iran, Israel, Georgia TROPICAL ASIA: India (Jammu and Kashmir) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) EUROPE: United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Belarus, Russian Federation (Volgogradskaja oblast), Ukraine, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sicily), Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Côte D‘Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa (Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Transvaal), Madagascar

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Wolffia globosaKhai NamPerennial0.0 10-12 F NWeWa403

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(L.)Horkel. ex Wimm.

Botanical References

17200204

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Louis Landesman   Tue Oct 25 2005

Dr. Wastewater Duckweed Utilization Page Uses of duckweed

Louis Landesman   Tue Oct 25 2005

Dr. Wastewater Duckweed Utilization Page Uses of duckweed

nat   Mon Jun 29 2009

Would anyone be able to tell me where I could obtain this plant in the UK. Thank you for your help.

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Subject : Wolffia arrhiza  
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