Family: Araceae
Author: (L.) Horkel ex Wimm.
Bibliography: Fl. Schles., ed. 3: 140 (1857)
Year: 1857
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Wolffia
Vegetable: False
Observations: Africa, Europe to N. India, S. Korea to Philippines
Description
Rootless duckweed, known scientifically as Wolffia arrhiza, is a fascinating and unique member of the Araceae family. This extraordinary plant holds the title for being one of the smallest flowering plants in the world, with a minimalist structure that defies typical botanical features. Unlike most plants, Wolffia arrhiza completely lacks roots, a characteristic that sets it apart and contributes to its intriguing nomenclature.
The plant’s diminutive size and rootless nature mean it floats freely on the surface of still or slow-moving aquatic environments. This allows it to efficiently absorb nutrients directly from the water, a remarkable adaptation that supports its growth and proliferation in a wide range of aquatic habitats.
Wolffia arrhiza’s distribution is extensive, spanning multiple continents. It thrives in regions across Africa, Europe extending to Northern India, and from South Korea to the Philippines. This broad geographical range highlights the plant’s adaptability to various climatic and environmental conditions.
Flowering in Wolffia arrhiza is an understated event, given the plant’s minute size. The flowers are microscopic and often go unnoticed, which underscores the remarkable nature of this plant that manages to reproduce and sustain its populations despite its lack of typical plant structures.
The historical context of Wolffia arrhiza is equally interesting. It was documented in the Flora Silesiae—a key botanical reference—by Horkel and Wimmer in 1857. This historical citation underscores the long-standing recognition and scientific interest in this peculiar plant, which continues to captivate botanists and plant enthusiasts alike.
Overall, the rootless duckweed stands as a testament to the diversity and adaptability of plant life. Its presence across a wide geographical range and its unique rootless structure offer valuable insights into plant biology and ecological adaptation.
Common Names
Ita: wolffia
Deu: wurzellose zwergwasserlinse, zwergwasserlinse
Hun: közönséges vízidara
Por: lentilha-d`água
Fra: lentille deau sans racines, wolffie sans racines, wolffia sans racines, wollfie, lentille d’eau sans racines
Eng: rootless duckweed, spotless watermeal, spotless water flaxseed
Nld: wortelloos kroos
Swe: dvärgandmat
Cym: llinad di-wraidd, llinad diwraidd
En: Rootless duckweed, Spotless watermeal, Spotless water flaxseed, Spotless Water-flaxseed
Be: Вольфія бескаранёвая
Bn: গুঁড়িপানা
Bg: Безкоренова волфия
Ca: Wòlfia
Zh: 卵萍, 水蚤萍, 無根萍
Hr: Beskorjenska sitna leća
Cs: Drobnička bezkořenná
Nl: Wortelloos kroos, Wotelloos Kroos
Fi: Vesilinssi
Fr: Wolffia sans Racines, Wollfie, Lentille deau sans racines, Wolffie sans racines, Lentille d’eau sans racines, Lentille-d’eau sans racines, Lentille d’eau sans racine
De: Wurzellose Zwergwasserlinse, Wurzellose Wasserlinse, Zwergwasserlinse, Entenlinse, Zwerg-Wasserlinse, Zwerglinse
Hu: Közönséges vízidara
It: Wolffia
Ml: വുൾഫ്ഫിയ അറൈസ
Fa: عدسک آبی بیریشه
Pl: Wolfia bezkorzeniowa
Pt: Lentilha-d`água
Ru: Вольфия бескорневая
Sv: Dvärgandmat
Zh-tw: 無根萍
Ta: மிகச் சிறிய தாவரம்
Uk: Вольфія безкоренева
Cy: Llinad di-wraidd, Llinad Diwraidd
Synonyms
- Bruniera vivipara (Franch.)
- Lenticula arrhiza ((L.) Lam.)
- Lemna arrhiza (L.)
- Horkelia arrhiza ((L.) Druce)
- Wolffia delilii (Miq.)
- Wolffia michelii (Schleid.)
- Lemna microscopica (Schur)
Distribution
- Algeria (native)
- Angola (native)
- Austria (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Benin (native)
- Botswana (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Burundi (native)
- Canary Is. (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Corse (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- France (native)
- Free State (native)
- Germany (native)
- Ghana (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Guinea-Bissau (native)
- Hungary (native)
- India (native)
- Iran (native)
- Italy (native)
- Ivory Coast (native)
- Kenya (native)
- Korea (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Madagascar (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- Nigeria (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- Northern Provinces (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Rwanda (native)
- Senegal (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Togo (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Uganda (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Brazil Southeast (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Nansei-shoto (introduced)
Additional Images
Habit
Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Sep 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Sep 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Apr 7, 2019 by Tela Botanica − John De Vos (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Yann QUELEN (©)
Leaf
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Taken Aug 15, 2014 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Taken Sep 15, 2022 by Marilou CHAUSSE (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Other
Taken Jul 15, 2003 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Aug 15, 2001 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)
Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Aug 31, 1853 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Oct 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Yann QUELEN (©)
Fruit
Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Apr 7, 2019 by Tela Botanica − John De Vos (cc-by-sa)
© 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/5330092)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1044795-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Wolffia arrhiza (L.) Horkel ex Wimm.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 9
Soil nutriments: 7