Spirodela polyrrhiza

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• giant duckweed
• great duckweed
• greater duckweed
• larger duckweed
• water flaxseed
• Water Flexseed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Telmatophace orbicularis
• Lemna major
• Lenticula polyrrhiza
• Lemna bannatica
• Lemna orbicularis
• Lemna orbiculata
• Lemna polyrhiza
• Lemna thermalis
• Lemna umbonata
• Lemna maxima
• Lemna polyrhiza var. concolor
• Spirodela polyrhiza var. masonii
• Spirodela atropurpurea
• Spirodela maxima
• Telmatophace polyrhiza

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Alismatales. Finally, it is situated within the family Araceae and the genus Spirodela.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Spirodelas polyrhiza, exhibits a specific range across the northern regions of the European continent. Its geographical distribution includes several countries within Northern Europe, such as Denmark and Finland. It can also be found thriving in the waters of Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the species extends its presence into the coastal and inland areas of Norway. Collectively, these locations define its primary habitat within the northern reaches of the territory.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Spirodela polyrhiza is characterized by its presence in aquatic environments, specifically thriving within lakes. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to colonize diverse geographical landscapes. It can be found at sea level, with a minimum elevation of 0 m AMSL, and extends its range up to a maximum elevation of 3000 m AMSL. On average, the plant is typically situated at a mean elevation of 400 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to various thermal and atmospheric conditions across a wide vertical gradient.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

lakes

Life history

The life history of Spirodelas polyrhiza is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the organism to persist across multiple growing seasons. As a hydrophyte, it is specifically adapted to aquatic environments, thriving in submerged or floating conditions. Its physiological strategy involves a deciduous nature, where seasonal changes lead to the shedding of parts in response to environmental fluctuations. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a cryptophyte life form, utilizing specialized survival mechanisms to endure unfavorable periods by protecting its vital structures below the water level or within the substrate.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hydrophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Spirodela polyrhiza is characterized by its diminutive stature, typically reaching a mean plant height of 0.008 m, with a maximum height of approximately 0.01 m. It is classified as an aquatic plant, exhibiting a growth form consistent with a non-woody herb or forb. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite, and it is a terrestrial-based species rather than an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting in its structural habit, requiring no climbing mechanisms such as lianas or vines to maintain its position within its aquatic environment.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.01 m

Plant height mean:

0.008 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Spirodela polyrhiza is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. The plant's vegetative architecture features specialized leaf structures with a mean leaf length of 0.65 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 1 cm, and a mean leaf width of 0.5 cm, varying between 0.4 cm and 1 cm. These morphological dimensions result in a mean leaf size of 0.1945 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a high Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 298.1 cm²/g, reflecting its physiological adaptation to efficient resource acquisition and light interception within its aquatic environment.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

1 cm

Leaf length mean:

0.65 cm

Leaf length min:

0.3 cm

Leaf size mean:

0.1945 cm²

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

298.1 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Spirodelade polyrhiza is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, which facilitates the production of seeds. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in July. During the flowering stage, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insect pollination to ensure reproductive success; notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species. Following successful pollination, the plant produces an achene, which is an indehiscent fruit type. The dispersal of these reproductive units is primarily hydrochorous, meaning they are dispersed by water, a strategy well-suited to its aquatic environment. While sexual reproduction is the primary focus, asexual reproduction is recorded as absent for this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Spirodela polyrhiza has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, Apigetrin, Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, Cynaroside, Flavonoid.

Anthocyanins

1. Journal of plant physiology

Apigetrin

1. Journal of plant physiology

Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside

1. Journal of plant physiology

Cynaroside

1. Journal of plant physiology

Flavonoid

1. Journal of plant physiology

Orientin

1. Journal of plant physiology

Pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside

1. Journal of plant physiology

Proanthocyanidins

1. Journal of plant physiology

Vitexin

1. Journal of plant physiology

apigenin

1. Journal of plant physiology

Activities

Spirodela polyrhiza has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antithrombotic, Fibrinolytic.

Antithrombotic

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Fibrinolytic

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Conditions

Spirodela polyrhiza has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include fibrin, fibrinogen.

Fibrin

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Fibrinogen

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry