Duckweeds - natives (Lemna, Wolffia and Spirodela)
Family: Lemnaceae (Duckweed family).
Natives of Australia. Some are cosmopolitan, and there is one uncommon introduced species (Lemna minor).
Occurrence: Widespread and common on still or slow flowing water.
Identification: Duckweeds are tiny (1 to 10 mm) wide, floating plants Despite the tiny size, duckweeds are flowering plants. They are the smallest of all flowering plants. It is rare to see them in flower, and they usually multiply by budding. The sketches show several still joined together. In good conditions they may completely cover the water.
Photo 1: Three species of duckweed. Thin Duckweed
(Spirodela punctata), Common Duckweed (Lemna disperma) and Tiny
Duckweed (Wolffia australiana). Drawn from plants at Campbells Creek.
2: Duckweed. Three kinds are present; Wolffia
(smallest), Lemna, and Spirodela (largest). Campbells Creek at the Yapeen bridge.
3: Below: Native Duckweed (light green) floating on
Campbells Creek at Campbells Creek. The green feathery plant is Parrots
Feathers *Myriophyllum aquaticum, which is an invasive water weed.
Dense Duckweed below the Wheeler Street Bridge, Forest Creek.