rootless duckweed
Wolffia arrhiza · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (3 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Rootless duckweed, scientifically known as Wolffia arrhiza, is one of the world's smallest flowering plants. These tiny, floating aquatic organisms thrive in freshwater ecosystems, providing vital nutrients. Renowned for their high protein content, they serve as a sustainable superfood and a crucial component in traditional medicinal practices worldwide.
Names and Synonyms
Common Names
- rootless duckweed
- spotless water flaxseed
- spotless watermeal
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Wolffia arrhizaSynonyms
- Horkelia arrhiza
- Lenticula arrhiza
- Lemna arrhiza
- Bruniera vivipara
Regional and Traditional Names
German:
- Wurzellose Zwergwasserlinse
- Zwergwasserlinsen
- Zwergwasserlinse
- Wurzellose Zwerglinse
- Wurzellose Wasserlinse
- wurzellose Zwergwasserlinse
- Entenlinse
- Zwergwasserlinse
French:
- lentille deau sans racines
- Wolffia sans Racines
- Wollfie
- lentille d'eau sans racines
- wolffia sans racines
- wolffie sans racines
- Wollfie
- Lentille d'eau naine
Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Alismatales, falling under the family Araceae. Ultimately, the species is identified by the genus Wolffia.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Alismatales |
| Family | Araceae |
| Genus | Wolffia |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution primarily concentrated across various regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence has been documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Austria and Belgium. Additionally, it extends its range through the territories of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, the distribution continues through Germany, completing its documented European range.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain |
| Middle Europe | Austria |
| Middle Europe | Belgium |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia |
| Middle Europe | Germany |
| Middle Europe | Hungary |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands |
| Middle Europe | Poland |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse |
| Southwestern Europe | France |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Botanical Identification
Ecology
The ecology of Wolffia arrhiza is characterized by its preference for stagnant or slow-moving freshwater environments, specifically inhabiting ditches and pools. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occurring across a diverse range of elevations that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum elevation of 1600 m AMSL.
- Elevational range max:
- 1600 m AMSL
- Elevational range min:
- 0 m AMSL
- Habitat :
- ditches and pools
Life history
The life history of Wolffia arrhiza is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a specialized hydrophyte, it is fully adapted to aquatic environments, functioning as a cryptophyte where its biological structures are adapted to life within or upon the water surface. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its structures in response to seasonal environmental changes.
- Deciduousness :
- deciduous
- Life form :
- hydrophyte
- Life form :
- cryptophyte
- Lifecycle :
- perennial
Morphology
The morphology of Wolffia arrhiza is characterized by its diminutive, non-woody structure, functioning as a self-supporting aquatic herb and forb. It exhibits an extremely minimal stature, with a mean plant height of 0 m and a maximum height reaching only 0.01 m. As an aquatic organism, it is categorized as terrestrial in its epiphytic classification and exists as an independent species, lacking any parasitic tendencies. Its growth form is strictly non-woody, maintaining a small, floating presence without the need for climbing or liana-like structures.
- 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 m
- Woodiness :
- non-woody
Physiology
The physiology of Wolffia arrhiza is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. The plant possesses highly specialized, minute vegetative structures where the leaf form is distinctly ovate. These structures exhibit extreme miniaturization, with a mean leaf size of only 0.0019 cm² and a leaf width that ranges from a minimum of 0.05 cm to a maximum of 0.15 cm. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 192.9 cm²/g, reflecting its unique morphological adaptations to its aquatic environment.
- Carnivory :
- non-carnivorous
- Leaf form :
- ovate
- Leaf size mean:
- 0.0019 cm²
- Leaf width max:
- 0.15 cm
- Leaf width min:
- 0.05 cm
- Photosynthetic pathway :
- C3
- Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:
- 192.9 cm²/g
Reproduction
The reproduction of Wolffia arrhiza is characterized by a complex interplay of sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is noted to be absent. The flowering cycle is highly flexible, with flowering periods that can occur across all months of the year, from January through December, and are considered variable. The plant produces extremely minute inflorescences, with lengths ranging from a minimum of $1 \times 10^{-4}$ m to a maximum of $2 \times 10^{-4}$ m. Pollination is driven by biotic mechanisms, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome. Interestingly, self-fertilization is absent in this species. The resulting fruit is classified as an achene with a maximum width of 0.05 cm, and it is characterized by an indehiscent nature. The seeds produced are tiny, with a minimum length of 0.2 mm and a maximum of 0.5 mm, and a minimum width of 0.3 mm and a maximum of 0.4 mm. Finally, the dispersal of the species is primarily hydrochorous, relying on water to transport its seeds to new habitats.
- Dehiscence :
- indehiscent
- Dispersal syndrome :
- hydrochorous
- Flowering time :
- Dec
- Fruit type :
- achene
- Fruit width max:
- 0.05 cm
- Inflorescence length max:
- 2e-04 m
- Inflorescence length min:
- 1e-04 m
- Pollination syndrome :
- insect
- Pollination syndrome :
- biotic
- Reproduction asexual :
- absent
- Seed length max:
- 0.5 mm
- Seed length min:
- 0.2 mm
- Seed width max:
- 0.4 mm
- Seed width min:
- 0.3 mm
- Self fertilization :
- absent
Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)
Chemicals
Wolffia arrhiza has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATALASE, Peroxidase.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| CATALASE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Peroxidase | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
CATALASE
- Izvestiia Akademii nauk. Seriia biologicheskaia
Peroxidase
- Izvestiia Akademii nauk. Seriia biologicheskaia
Conditions
Wolffia arrhiza has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include salt stress.
| Condition | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Salt stress | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Salt stress
- Izvestiia Akademii nauk. Seriia biologicheskaia