Lemna minor
Duckweed
a perennial member of the Lemna genus in the family Lemnaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Occasionally used as a vegetable[4]. No further details are given but we have found the flavour to be less than desirable[K].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The whole plant is alterative, antipruritic, antiscorbutic, astringent, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge and soporific[2][3][6]. It is used in the treatment of colds, measles, oedema and difficulty in urination[2]. It is applied externally in the treatment of skin diseases and is used as a wash for ophthalmia[6]. The plant is used in homeopathy[6], but the report gives no more details.
- Product or use
- Alterative
- Product or use
- Antiscorbutic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Depurative
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
- Product or use
- Ophthalmic
- Product or use
- Sedative
- Product or use
- Skin
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The dried plant repels mosquitoes[3].
- Product or use
- Repellent
Environment
- Range
- A cosmopolitan plant, found in most regions of the world, including Britain, absent from Tropics.
- Habitat
- Still water[1].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- aquatic
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil pH
- neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - we have no information on this species but, since it spreads so rapidly by division, it really needs no extra help once it is in a pond.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a sunny position in still water that is rich in nitrates and lime[5]. Duckweed can be a troublesome pond weed though it is easily controlled by simply scooping it out[7][5]. This scooped out material makes an excellent addition to the compost heap. The growing plant is a good food source for fish and birds, as well as providing cover for creatures in the pond[5]. Although it is towards the limit of its climatic range in Britain, it often flowers here if growing in a sheltered sunny position[1]. It over-winters in temperate areas by means of resting buds which sink to the bottom of the pond in the late autumn and rise again in the spring[5].
References
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-7158-0789-7