Great duckweed, Zi peng, Duckmeat
Spirodela polyrrhiza

Family: Araceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows in water. The fronds are free floating. 1-10 stick together. They are flat and green on the upper surface but often red underneath. They have pouches at the base. They produce daughter fronds and sometimes a flower. There is a small scale which covers the place where it is attached to the root.

There are 3 Spirodela species. It is used in medicine. Also in the family Lemnaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in ponds and lakes and rice fields in warm places. In China it occurs between sea level and 2900 m altitude. It occurs throughout the tropics. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Botswana, Britain, Central America (country/location of origin), China, Cuba (country/location of origin), Dominican Republic, East Africa, Europe, Guatemala, Haiti (country/location of origin), Hawaii, Himalayas, Iran, Jamaica (country/location of origin), Korea, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico (country/location of origin), Middle East, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, SE Asia, Taiwan, USA, Virgin Islands, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Lemna polyrhiza L.;