Greater Duckweed
ExplorePlants
Greater Duckweed
spirodela polyrhiza
Greater Duckweed is a tiny floating plant that loves to grow on the surface of ponds and lakes. It is a great food source for many water animals and helps keep the water clean!
Habitat: Freshwater ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams
Appearance
The Greater Duckweed is a small, free-floating aquatic plant that forms bright green mats on the water's surface. Its individual fronds are round to oval, often with a distinctive reddish-purple underside and several fine rootlets hanging into the water, distinguishing it from smaller duckweeds.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAlismatalesFamilyAraceaeGenusSpirodela
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Duckweed can produce so much oxygen that it helps other creatures in the pond breathe!
It's the largest of the duckweed family, yet still often smaller than your pinky fingernail!
Many fish and birds love to munch on this tiny green plant like it's a super nutritious snack!
Scientists are studying duckweed to help clean up polluted water and even create new sustainable foods!
Special abilities
Ability
Rapid Colonizer
Greater Duckweed can reproduce incredibly fast, doubling its population in days to quickly cover water surfaces.
Ability
Water Purifier
Greater Duckweed can absorb excess nutrients from the water, which helps clean ponds and improve water quality.
Ability
Winter Survivor
Greater Duckweed has special buds called turions that sink, allowing it to survive freezing winters underwater.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 0.3-1 cm
- Spread
- 0.3-1 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.05-0.1 cm
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eaten by
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
ducks feast on its floating leaves
eaten by
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
carp filter-feed on duckweed fronds
eats
Great Pond Snail
Lymnaea stagnalis
snails graze on its green fronds
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Filter Feeder
Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Also known as
DuckweedLemnaWater Fern
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Greater Duckweed?
0.3-1 cm
How wide does Greater Duckweed spread?
0.3-1 cm
How big are the flowers on Greater Duckweed?
0.05-0.1 cm
Is Greater Duckweed edible?
Yes
Is Greater Duckweed toxic?
None
What is Greater Duckweed's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Greater Duckweed pollinated?
Wind
Where is Greater Duckweed usually found?
Freshwater ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams
Snap Map
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