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Lemna gibba — Details

Inflated Duckweed learn more about names for this taxon

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Overview

Brief Summary

Biology

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This species spreads mainly through vegetative reproduction (3), but flowers are occasionally produced in shallow water exposed to the full sun (2). When covering the entire surface of a pond, it can make the water appear solid, and in parts of the north-west of England children were scared away from such ponds by the myth of Jenny Green-teeth, a pond elf or monster whose presence was indicated by duckweed; she was said to lure children into ponds and drown them (5).

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Comprehensive Description

Description

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This duckweed is one of Britain's most common small water plants, which forms familiar green mats covering stagnant water bodies (4). It has a simple plant body, known as a thallus, which floats on the surface of the water and measures up to five millimetres in diameter (2). A single root hangs down into the water (2).

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Distribution

Range Description

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Lemna gibba is distributed in throughout the world in warm and Mediterranean climatic regions, naturalized in Japan (Cook 1996) and absent in polar and the tropics. It is also present in most of Europe, South and South West Asia, Sri Lanka, NE & South Africa and South America. In India this species reported from Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra (Lakshminarasimhan 1996), Kerala (Nayar et al 2006) and Tamil Nadu. In Gulf of Mannar occasionally found in mainland coast (Daniel and Umamaheswari 2001). But Anand kumar (2001) reported that this species is distributed throughout India.

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Lemna parodiana Giardelli:
Argentina (South America)
Peru (South America)

Giardelli, M. L. 1969. Lemnaceae, In: M. N. Correa (ed.),. 8(2): 93–101. In M. N. Correa Fl. Patagónica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Buenos Aires. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/43748
Giardelli, M. L. 1968. Lemnaceae in A.L. Cabrera. 4(1): 428–447. In A. L. Cabrera Fl. Prov. Buenos Aires. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Buenos Aires. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/43827
Giardelli, M. L. 1937. Notas Mus. La Plata, Bot. 12: 97. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/43909

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Lemna gibba L.:
Argentina (South America)
Belize (Mesoamerica)
Bolivia (South America)
Brazil (South America)
Canada (North America)
Chile (South America)
Colombia (South America)
Costa Rica (Mesoamerica)
Ecuador (South America)
El Salvador (Mesoamerica)
French Guiana (South America)
Guatemala (Mesoamerica)
Guyana (South America)
Honduras (Mesoamerica)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Nicaragua (Mesoamerica)
Panama (Mesoamerica)
Peru (South America)
Paraguay (South America)
Suriname (South America)
Uruguay (South America)
United States (North America)
Caribbean (Caribbean)
Venezuela (South America)

Jørgensen, P. M. & C. Ulloa Ulloa. 1994. Seed plants of the high Andes of Ecuador---A checklist. AAU Rep. 34: 1–443. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/47124
Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
Foster, R. C. 1958. A catalogue of the ferns and flowering plants of Bolivia. Contr. Gray Herb. 184: 1–223. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1313
Marticorena, C. & M. Quezada. 1985. Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Chile. Gayana, Bot. 42: 1–157. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1592
De la Barra, N., M. A. B., C. A. V. & G. N. S. 1999. Vegetacíon Acuática y Palustre del Valle Central de Cochabamba. Revista Boliviana Ecol. Cons. Amb. 6:65–76. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1028930
Troiani, H. O., Steibel & Covas. 1982. Catálogo de las plantas acuáticas, anfibias y de suelos húmedos de la prov. de La Pampa. Bol. Centro Pampeano Est. Cis. Nat. y Agron. 4: 32–49. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/44018
Landolt, E. 1986. The family Lemnaceae---A monographic study. Veröff. Geobot. Inst. ETH Stiftung Rübel Zürich 71: 1–566. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/8442
McVaugh, R. & S. D. Koch. 1993. Lemnaceae. 13: 109–124. In R. McVaugh Fl. Novo-Galiciana. The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1015022
Giardelli, M. L. 1969. Lemnaceae, In: M. N. Correa (ed.),. 8(2): 93–101. In M. N. Correa Fl. Patagónica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Buenos Aires. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/43748
Hokche, O., P. E. Berry & O. Huber. 2008. Nuev. Cat. Fl. Vas. Venezuela 1–860. Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1033110
Jørgensen, P. M. & S. León-Yánez. (eds.) 1999. Catalogue of the vascular plants of Ecuador. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 75: i–viii, 1–1181. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/42250
Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles & C. R. Bell. 1968. Man. Vasc. Fl. Carolinas i–lxi, 1–1183. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/636
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Man. Vasc. Pl. Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1493
Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Fl. Great Plains i–vii, 1–1392. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/637
Martínez Salas, E. M., M. Sousa Sánchez & C. H. Ramos Álvarez. 2001. Región de Calakmul, Campeche. Listados Floríst. México 22: 1–55. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1018508
Hickman, J. C. 1993. Jepson Man.: Higher Pl. Calif. i–xvii, 1–1400. University of California Press, Berkeley. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/40453
Munz, P. A. & D. D. Keck. 1959. Cal. Fl. 1–1681. University of California Press, Berkeley. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1717
Munz, P. A. 1974. Fl. S. Calif. 1–1086. University of California Press, Berkeley. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1719
Cronquist, A., A. H. Holmgren, N. H. Holmgren & J. L. Reveal. 1977. Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. 6: 1–584. In A. J. Cronquist, A. H. Holmgren, N. H. Holmgren, J. L. Reveal & P. K. Holmgren (eds.) Intermount. Fl. Hafner Pub. Co., New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1725
Franquemont, C., T. Plowman, E. Franquemont, S. R. King, C. Niezgoda, W. Davis & C. R. Sperling. 1990. The ethnobotany of Chinchero, an Andean community in southern Peru. Fieldiana, Bot., n.s. 24: 1–126. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/15804
Godfrey, R. K. & J. W. Wooten. 1979. Aquatic Wetland Pl. S.E. U.S. Monocot. 1–712. The University of Georgia Press, Athens. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1710
Macbride, J. F. 1936. Lemnaceae, Flora of Peru. Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 13(1/3): 486–487. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1132
Giardelli, M. L. 1968. Lemnaceae in A.L. Cabrera. 4(1): 428–447. In A. L. Cabrera Fl. Prov. Buenos Aires. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Buenos Aires. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/43827
Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. (eds.) 1993. Catalogue of the Flowering Plants and Gymnosperms of Peru. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45: i–xl, 1–1286. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/7728

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National Distribution

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United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

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Range

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Widespread throughout Britain, but is absent from much of Scotland and Shetland (2). Elsewhere the species has a very wide global distribution, absent only from polar areas and the tropics (2).

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Distribution

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Distribution: Most of Europe, South West Asia, India, Ceylon, NE & South Africa and South America.

Flora of Pakistan @ eFloras.org

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Physical Description

Morphology

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Lemna gibba L. is easily differentiated from Lemna minor L. in being gibbous beneath, and by having larger air spaces.

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Description

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Fronds free floating, broadly ovate to orbicular, dorsal surface greenish, sometime reddish brown, asymmetrical, slightly convex, 2-7 x 2-4 mm, mostly hemispherical and strongly swollen below with large inflated hyaline cells and air spaces and usually with 40-50 meshes and with 3-5 veins; new fronds budding laterally and remaining attached to very short stipes. Flowering cavity lateral, spathe enclosing 2 staminate and 1 pistillate flower. Fruit 1-5-seeded and winged; seed ribbed, utricle rounded.

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Description

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Roots to 15 cm, tip mostly rounded; sheath not winged. Stipes white, thin, often decaying. Fronds floating, 1 or 2--5 or more, coherent in groups, obovate, often gibbous, 1--8 mm, 1--1.5 times as long as wide, margins entire; veins (3--)4--5(--7) (all originating from node), greatest distance between lateral veins near or distal to middle; papillae often indistinct; upper lower surface sometimes red colored, coloring beginning from margin, lower upper surface occasionally with distinct red spots beginning from margins near apex; largest air spaces longer than 0.3 mm; distinct turions absent. Flowers: ovaries (1--)2--7-ovulate, utricular scale with narrow opening at apex. Fruits 0.6--1 mm, laterally winged. Seeds with 8--16 distinct ribs, falling out of fruit wall after ripening. 2n = 40, 42, 44, 50.

Flora of North America @ eFloras.org

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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology

This herb is freely floating and grows in stagnant water (Anand kumar 2001), ponds and tanks (Lakshminarasimhan 1996).Usually found in mesotropic to eutrophic waters (Cook 1996). It grows in water rich in nitrates and carbonate (Sharma et al. 2010).

Systems

Freshwater

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Habitat

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Found in a wide range of still or slow-flowing water bodies, common duckweed can also occur on mud or damp rocks (3).

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Habitat & Distribution

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Flowering (rather frequent) spring--fall. Eutrophic, quiet waters in temperate regions with mild winters; 0--1900 m; Ariz., Calif., Ill., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., Tex., Wyo.; northern Mexico; South America; Eurasia; Africa; Atlantic Islands.

Flora of North America @ eFloras.org

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Life History and Behavior

Cyclicity

Flower/Fruit

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Fl. Per.: April-August.

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Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Lemna gibba

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 14
Species: 15
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category

LC

Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2011

Assessor/s

Kumar, B.

Reviewer/s

Lakshminarasimhan, P., Rasingam, L., Gunaga, S., Raghavan, R. & Molur, S.

Contributor/s

Molur, S.

Justification

Lemna gibba is assessed as Least Concern as the species is widely distributed, common and without any threats.

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National NatureServe Conservation Status

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United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

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NatureServe Conservation Status

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Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure

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Status

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Common and widespread (3).

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Trends

Population

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Population

No population information on this species.

Population Trend

Unknown

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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats

No threats has been reported for this species.

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Threats

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Not currently threatened.

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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions

No conservation actions are known for this species.

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Conservation

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Not relevant.

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Wikipedia

Lemna gibba

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Lemna gibba (gibbous duckweed^[1] or fat duckweed) is a species of Lemna (duckweed) with distribution in temperate areas in Europe, including Britain, to the Himalayas, Africa, South America and North America. This duckweed is one of Britain's most common small water plants, which forms familiar green mats covering stagnant water bodies.^[2] It has a simple plant body, known as a thallus, which floats on the surface of the water and measures up to five millimetres in diameter. A single root hangs down into the water. Found in a wide range of still or slow-flowing water bodies, common duckweed can also occur on mud or damp rocks.

Widespread throughout Britain, but is absent from much of Scotland and Shetland. Elsewhere the species has a very wide global distribution, absent only from polar areas and the tropics.^[3]

You can view distribution information for this species on the Charms of Duckweed (worldwide) and National Biodiversity Network Gateway (Britain only).

This species spreads mainly through vegetative reproduction,^[4] but flowers are occasionally produced in shallow water exposed to the full sun. When covering the entire surface of a pond, it can make the water appear solid, and in parts of the north-west of England children were scared away from such ponds by the myth of Jenny Green-teeth, a pond elf or monster whose presence was indicated by duckweed; she was said to lure children into ponds and drown them.^[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lemna gibba

^ Derived from the Latin, gibbus = hump, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
^ Mabey, R. (1996) Flora Britannica. Sinclair-Stevenson, London.
^ Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Moore, D.M. (1987) Flora of the British Isles. 3rd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
^ Preston, C.D., Pearman, D.A. and Dines, T.D. (2002) The New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
^ Grigson, G. (1996) The Englishman's Flora. Helicon, Oxford.

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