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swollen duckweed
Scientific Name: Lemna gibba
Family: Lemnaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Lemna gibba: Swollen Duckweed
Lemna gibba, commonly known as gibbous duckweed, swollen duckweed, or fat duckweed, is a fascinating aquatic plant known for its rapid growth and unique morphology. This small, free-floating plant has garnered significant attention from researchers and environmentalists alike.
Considerations for Pets
- Duckweed, including Lemna gibba, grows in aquatic environments.
- It is a small plant, no more than 6 mm across, consisting of disc-shaped leaf-like structures.
- The plant has a swollen underside with enlarged air spaces.
Considerations for Children
- Duckweed, including Lemna gibba, grows in aquatic environments.
- It is a small plant, no more than 6 mm across, consisting of disc-shaped leaf-like structures.
- The plant has a swollen underside with enlarged air spaces.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Lemna gibba L.
- Common Names: Swollen duckweed, gibbous duckweed, fat duckweed, inflated duckweed
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Family: Araceae (Arum Family)
- Synonyms: inflated duckweed
Description and Growth
- Lemna gibba is a perennial forb/herb that grows rapidly, reaching up to 0.2 meters (8 inches) in height.
- It has a simple plant body, known as a thallus.
- The plant consists of one to several disc-shaped leaf-like structures.
- The leaves are always swollen.
- Each frond contains buds from which more fronds may grow, resulting in rapid budding.
- The underside of the plant is swollen with enlarged air spaces.
Distribution and Habitat
- Lemna gibba is widespread.
- It grows in Western Europe, South Europe, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Baleares, France, Corsica, Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, and former Yugoslavia.
Ecological Role
- Lemna gibba makes an excellent bioindicator for heavy metals.
Reproduction
- The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant).
- Duckweeds utilize "contact pollination."
Quirky Facts
- Duckweeds are among the smallest of flowering plants.
- Duckweed leaves have stomata (pores) with guard cells that swell to open and deflate to close.
Further Information
- Dave's Garden: A community for sharing gardening tips and ideas.
- TERMIUM: The Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank.
- USDA Forest Service: Provides information on the utilization of duckweed.
- Flora of North America
- CalPhotos