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duckweed, lesser duckweed

Roots

to 3 cm;

tip usually sharp pointed;

sheath winged at base (wing 1–2.5 times as long as wide).

Flowers

ovaries 1-ovulate, utricular scale open on 1 side.

Fruits

0.5–0.8 mm, not winged.

Seeds

with 8–26 distinct ribs, falling out of fruit wall after ripening.

Stipes

small, white, often decaying.

Fronds

floating, 1 or 2–few, coherent in groups, ovate-lanceolate, flat, 1–6 mm, 1–3 times as long as wide, margins entire;

veins 3, greatest distance between lateral veins near or proximal to middle; 1 often very distinct papilla near apex on upper surface and 1 above node;

anthocyanin absent, no reddish color;

largest air spaces much shorter than 0.3 mm; distinct turions absent.

2n

= 40, 42, 50, 60, 80, 84.

Lemna aequinoctialis

Phenology Flowering (frequent) spring–fall.
Habitat Mesotrophic to eutrophic, quiet waters in warm-temperate to tropical regions
Elevation 0–1300 mm
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; AZ; CA; FL; GA; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MO; MS; NC; NE; NM; OK; SC; TN; TX; VA; WI; Central America; South America; Indian Ocean Islands; Pacific Islands; West Indies; Atlantic Islands; Africa; s Eurasia; Australia
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[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Some authors did not distinguish between Lemna aequinoctialis and L. perpusilla and used the latter name for both species.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 22, p. 149.
Parent taxa Lemnaceae > Lemna
Sibling taxa
L. gibba, L. minor, L. minuta, L. obscura, L. perpusilla, L. trisulca, L. turionifera, L. valdiviana
Synonyms L. paucicostata
Name authority Welwitsch: Bol. Ann. Cons. Ultramar. (Portugal) 55: 578. (1859)
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