Wolffia arrhiza Least Duckweed PFAF Plant Database

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

Common Name

Least Duckweed

Family

Lemnaceae

Synonyms

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

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Wolffia arrhiza is an evergreen Perennial.
It is hardy to zone 7. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Jan to December, and the seeds ripen from Jan to December. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water.


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commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Wolffia_arrhiza0.jpg

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].

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

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].

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.

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Expert comment

Author
(L.)Horkel. ex Wimm.

Botanical References
17200204

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.

[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[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.

[204]Livingstone. B. Flora of Canada

In 4 volumes, it does not deal with plant uses but gives descriptions and habitats.

[274]Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas

An excellent flora, which is also available on-line.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
Louis Landesman	Tue Oct 25 2005

Dr. Wastewater Duckweed Utilization Page Uses of duckweed

Elizabeth H.
Louis Landesman	Tue Oct 25 2005

Dr. Wastewater Duckweed Utilization Page Uses of duckweed

Elizabeth H.
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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