Least duckweed, Spotless Watermeal, Rootless duckweed
Wolffia arrhiza

Family: Araceae

What it is like

A water plant. It is like a greenish tinge on the water surface. The vegetative part is less than 1 mm long. It is inflated. It is rounded and with 1 side pocket. It does not have roots. The flower breaks through the tip part of the vegetative body. It does not have a spathe or sheath like structure around it. This is made up of one female flower and one male flower.

There are 11 Wolffia species. Wolffia are very small floating plants. Dried plants are 20% protein and 40% carbohydrate. Also in the family Lemnaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical and temperate plant. It grows on the water surface. It can float in rivers. It grows in wetlands.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indochina, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, North America, Pakistan, SE Asia, South America, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, West Africa

How it is used for food

It is used for soup.

It is an important food in Myanmar and Thailand.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

They mostly spread by vegetative means. Daughter plants bud from adult plants. This takes about 3 days.

Plants are harvested at 4 day intervales from ponds enriched with animal manure.

Its other names

Local names

Kaipwam, Thali

Synonyms

Lemna arrhiza L.; Wolffia michelii Schleid.;