Common Duckweed
Lemna minor
Family: Araceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows in water. The fronds are free floating. They are shiny green and cling together in small groups. The plant body is 0.1-0.4 cm long and oval. They have one root hanging down from each leaf. There are very small male and female flowers.
There are 13 Lemna species. Also put in the family Lemnaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in a very wide range of locations. It grows in still water. In Tibet it grows between 2,000-3,000 m above sea level. In Central America it grows between 500-1,700 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Britain, Cambodia, Canada, Central Asia, Central America, China, Egypt, El Salvador, Europe, Guatemala, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Middle East, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, SE Asia, Slovenia, Spain, St Helena, Pantropical, Tajikistan, Tibet, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, USA
How it is used for food
It is cooked and eaten as a vegetable. CAUTION: It contains oxalates that burn the throat. The cooking water could be changed.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Plants are transplanted on the legs of waterbirds. Plants grow vegetatively from small pieces of the plant.
Its other names
Local names
Fu ping, Lesser duckweed, Mala vodna leča, Manotona