Western Wetland Flora
Field Office Guide to Plant Species
Lemna valdiviana Philippi
- Family: Duckweed (Lemnaceae)
- Flowering: June-September
- Field Marks: Lemna species are distinguished by a single root per frond. Lemna valdiviana differs by its asymmetrical base, pale green color, flat surfaces, and obscure venation.
- Habitat: Quiet waters of lakes, ponds, and streams.
- Habit: Floating plant on the surface of the waters.
- Stems: 0.
- Leaves: Single fronds, or fronds in colonies of up to 10, up to 1/5 inch long, oblong to elliptic, usually asymmetrical at the base, flat, pale green, with obscure veins.
- Flowers: Rarely found; if present, male and female flowers borne in pouches known as spathes; male flowers 2 per pouch.
- Sepals: 0.
- Petals: 0.
- Stamens: 1.
- Pistils: Ovary superior.
- Fruits: Rarely seen, but not winged.
- Notes: This duckweed is eaten by waterfowl. There are reports of this species from Idaho and southeastern Oregon.
Previous Species -- Star Duckweed (Lemna trisulca\)
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Next Species -- Flowering Quillwort (Lilaea scilloides )
