Giant Duckweed, Common Duckmeat

I'm in love with these cuties. Always more interesting than the common duckweed (Lemna minor) for be more unknown and less common. I saw ...Read Moresome of these plants growing mixed with Lemna minor in an aquatic plant stand in a garden center, they're not for sold but arrived with the potted plants. As I don't had anything where I can catch it, I used a drink can and I selected carefully some Spirodela, trying to don't put Lemna with them.

Now I have Spirodela since six years ago and it grows happily in a small pond. In winter the plants dissapear under the surface and reappear again in spring.

This plants is for me more attractive than Lemna minor, Leaves are bigger and more rounded, with more marked veins. Each plant have various roots instead of the only root of L. minor. And under surface of the plant is purple.

Native to North America. Distributed throughout most of the U.S. Absent from the Rocky Mountains.

In the wild, it is an im...Read Moreportant food source for water fowl (hence name). It is a vital microhabitat for zooplankton, an important consumer of free-swimming algae. (Personal observation, captive plankton cultures)

In backyard ponds, it absorbs light and nutrients, mitigating algae growth. It is relished by koi and goldfish. However, it is also noted for spreading rapidly, and can be caught in skimmers and other filter equipment. (hearsay - friend with ponds)

In aquaria, duckweeds provide a breeding surface to fish that lay floating eggs or build bubble nests. It has the same difficulty with filters that it does in ponds. However, breeding tanks typically lack the heavy siphons that clog easily. (Entire personal observation, aquarium hobby)