Family: Araceae
Author: Welw.
Bibliography: Apont.: 578 (1859)
Year: 1859
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Lemna
Vegetable: False
Observations: Tropics & Subtropics
Description
Lesser duckweed, scientifically known as Lemna aequinoctialis, is a small aquatic plant found predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions. First described by Welw. in 1859 in his publication Apont., it belongs to the Araceae family which includes many other species of water plants.
Thriving in aquatic environments such as ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams, Lesser duckweed often forms dense mats on the surface of the water, creating a green, carpet-like appearance. This mat of greenery can provide important ecological benefits such as shelter for small aquatic organisms and birds, as well as contributing to water quality by competing with algae for nutrients and thus helping to control algal blooms.
The plant’s size and simplicity are notable; it consists of a single oval leaf-like frond typically measuring only a few millimeters across. Each frond is capable of producing new fronds through a process of budding, allowing for rapid reproduction and colonization of new areas.
Lesser duckweed is an important food source for waterfowl and some fish species. Additionally, its high protein content makes it a subject of interest for use in animal feed, as well as a potential bio-fuel source due to its efficient biomass production.
Given its widespread distribution and quick growth rate, Lesser duckweed can sometimes become invasive in non-native regions, outcompeting other aquatic plants and affecting biodiversity. This underscores the importance of monitoring and managing its growth, especially in artificial or sensitive ecosystems.
From an ecological perspective, Lemna aequinoctialis is a fascinating species, demonstrating the adaptability and resilience of aquatic plants. Its role in nutrient cycling, habitat formation, and even potential agricultural uses highlights its importance beyond just a simple green speck on the water’s surface.
Common Names
Eng: duckweed, lesser duckweed
Ita: lente d’acqua delle risaie
Fra: lentille-d’eau, lentille d’eau
Por: lentilha-d’água
Swe: vingandmat
Ara: ads e-lmaya, ads el-maya
En: Lesser duckweed, Duckweed
Ar: عدس (عَدْس المَّيه، عَدَس الميه), عطيه (عُطِّيه)، ريم (رِيم)، خس (خَس)، خز (خَز), ليخ, لمنة اعتدالية, Ads E-lmaya, Ads El-Maya
Bg: Тропическа водна леща
Zh: 稀脉浮萍, 青萍
Fr: Lentille D’Eau, Lentille-d’eau
It: Lenticchia d’acqua delle risaie, Lente d’acqua delle risaie
Pt: Lentilha-d’água
Ru: Ряска тропическая
Sv: Vingandmat
Zh-tw: 青萍
Synonyms
- Lemna angolensis (Welw.)
- Lemna paucicostata (Hegelm. ex Engelm.)
- Lemna aoukikusa (T.Beppu & Murata)
- Lemna aoukikusa subsp. hokurikuensis (T.Beppu & Murata)
- Lemna eleanorae (McCann)
- Lemna trinervis ((Austin) Small)
- Lemna perpusilla var. trinervis (Austin)
- Lemna blatteri (McCann)
- Lemna paucicostata var. membranacea (Hegelm.)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Alabama (native)
- Aldabra (native)
- Angola (native)
- Argentina Northeast (native)
- Arizona (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Aruba (native)
- Bahamas (native)
- Belize (native)
- Benin (native)
- Bermuda (native)
- Bolivia (native)
- Borneo (native)
- Botswana (native)
- Brazil North (native)
- Brazil Northeast (native)
- Brazil South (native)
- Brazil Southeast (native)
- Brazil West-Central (native)
- Burkina (native)
- Burundi (native)
- Cabinda (native)
- California (native)
- Cambodia (native)
- Cameroon (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Cape Verde (native)
- Caprivi Strip (native)
- Caroline Is. (native)
- Cayman Is. (native)
- Central African Repu (native)
- Chad (native)
- Chagos Archipelago (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Christmas I. (native)
- Cocos (Keeling) Is. (native)
- Colombia (native)
- Comoros (native)
- Congo (native)
- Costa Rica (native)
- Cuba (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Dominican Republic (native)
- Ecuador (native)
- Egypt (native)
- El Salvador (native)
- Equatorial Guinea (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Fiji (native)
- Florida (native)
- Free State (native)
- French Guiana (native)
- Gabon (native)
- Galápagos (native)
- Gambia (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Ghana (native)
- Guatemala (native)
- Guinea (native)
- Guinea-Bissau (native)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
- Guyana (native)
- Haiti (native)
- Hawaii (native)
- Honduras (native)
- Illinois (native)
- India (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Ivory Coast (native)
- Jamaica (native)
- Japan (native)
- Jawa (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Kenya (native)
- Khabarovsk (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Leeward Is. (native)
- Lesotho (native)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
- Liberia (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Madagascar (native)
- Malawi (native)
- Malaya (native)
- Mali (native)
- Maluku (native)
- Manchuria (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Mauritania (native)
- Mauritius (native)
- Mexico Central (native)
- Mexico Gulf (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Mexico Southeast (native)
- Mexico Southwest (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Mozambique Channel I (native)
- Namibia (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- Nepal (native)
- Netherlands Antilles (native)
- New Caledonia (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- Nicaragua (native)
- Niger (native)
- Nigeria (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- Northern Provinces (native)
- Northern Territory (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Panamá (native)
- Paraguay (native)
- Peru (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Puerto Rico (native)
- Qinghai (native)
- Queensland (native)
- Rodrigues (native)
- Rwanda (native)
- Réunion (native)
- Samoa (native)
- Senegal (native)
- Seychelles (native)
- Sierra Leone (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- Southwest Caribbean (native)
- Sudan (native)
- Sulawesi (native)
- Sumatera (native)
- Suriname (native)
- Swaziland (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Togo (native)
- Tonga (native)
- Trinidad-Tobago (native)
- Turks-Caicos Is. (native)
- Uganda (native)
- Venezuela (native)
- Venezuelan Antilles (native)
- Virginia (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Western Australia (native)
- Windward Is. (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- Greece (introduced)
Additional Images
Leaf
Taken Dec 22, 2019 by Herwig Mees (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 13, 2020 by sara dias (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 20, 2022 by #MaryKingfishers MK (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 1, 2021 by andrás schinagel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 10, 2020 by Warman Madeline (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jul 6, 2016 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)
Taken Aug 26, 2022 by Humulus Lupulus (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2022 by Valentina Jalšovec (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 12, 2015 by EOL − Bob O’Kennon (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Bart Wursten (cc-by-nc)
Flower
Taken Sep 29, 2016 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 6, 2016 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)
Taken Sep 29, 2016 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)
Taken Sep 29, 2016 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)
Taken Sep 24, 2022 by Sharleen (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Sep 29, 2016 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)
Taken Aug 12, 2019 by dick v leeuwen (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Sep 29, 2016 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)
Other
Taken Jul 6, 2016 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2867616)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:526159-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Lemna aequinoctialis Welw.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 6.5
Ph minimum: 5.5
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 9
Soil nutriments: 5