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Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Lemna gibba - swollen duckweed

Synonyms: Lenticula gibbosa P. Renault, Telmatophace arrhiza Schur, Telmatophace generalis E.H. L. Krause,
Other Common Names: inflated duckweed, gibbous duckweed, fat duckweed
Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub

Family: Lemnaceae


   
 
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Sue Carnahan @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: CC BY-NC (Attribution-Non-Commercial)
Sue Carnahan @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: CC BY-NC (Attribution-Non-Commercial)
Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native   Life Cycle: Perennial
General Desc: Plants grow singularly or in clusters of 2 or more fronds. A mother frond attaches to new fronds by a white, thin and often decaying stipe (stalk).
Identification notes: Free-floating, aquatic plant; roots to 6 inches; fronds (consist of part stem and part leaf blade) mostly immersed, lower surface pale and swollen, upper surfaced mottled; small unisexual flowers, surrounded by protruding, filmy cover.
Height: To 6 inches


Habitat

Habitat Description: Found in still waters and slow moving streams in areas with mild winters.
Plant Communities: Riparian
Elevation: Below 6500 feet


Flower Characteristics

Color: White     Shape: Other not in clusters     Tubular: N     Flowering Period: Jun - Sep
Description: Unisexual; lacking sepals and petals; 1 pistil (female organ) and 2 stamens (male organs); flowers enclosed in a membranous sheath (filmy protective covering) with a narrow opening at tip.


Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Yellowish-green,reddish-purple     Leaf Type: Compound     Leaf Shape: Round or oval     Leaf Margin: Smooth     Leaf Attachment: Other     Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: No     Spines: Y
Leaf Description: Fronds (look like leaves but stem and leaf not identified separately), tiny, floating, oval to round, swollen, to 1/4 inch long, to 1/4 inch wide, upper surface mottled yellowish-green, lower surface reddish-purple, 3 to 7 veins; air spaces present.


Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Type: Winged
Fruit Notes: Follicle (dry many-seeded fruit opening along 1 side only), 1/16 inch long, laterally winged.
Seed Notes: 1 to 3 seeds, 8 to 16 distinct ribs, falling out of fruit wall after ripening.



  Arizona Cooperative Extension
Yavapai County
840 Rodeo Dr #C
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 445-6590
Version 8.0  
http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php  
Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022
Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson  
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