Columbian watermeal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Columbian watermeal |
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| 1913 illustration | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Wolffia
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| Species: |
columbiana
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Wolffia columbiana, also known as the Columbian watermeal, is a super tiny water plant. It's so small, it's one of the smallest flowering plants on Earth! This plant lives in water all year round, which means it's a perennial plant. It belongs to the duckweed family.
You can find the Columbian watermeal in many places. It grows widely across North America, Central America, and South America. It also lives on the island of Curaçao.
Contents
What is Columbian Watermeal?
The Columbian watermeal is a type of duckweed. Duckweeds are tiny plants that float on the surface of still or slow-moving water. They often look like small green dots or scales.
How Small is This Plant?
This plant is incredibly small. It's usually less than 1 millimeter (about 0.04 inches) long! Imagine a grain of sand; the Columbian watermeal is often even smaller than that. Because it's so tiny, it doesn't have true stems or leaves like most plants. It's just a small, round, green body.
Where Does it Grow?
Columbian watermeal loves to grow in calm fresh water. You might find it in:
- Ponds
- Lakes
- Slow-moving streams
- Marshes
It often forms a green mat on the water's surface. This mat can sometimes cover large areas.
Why is Columbian Watermeal Important?
Even though it's tiny, the Columbian watermeal plays a role in its environment.
Food for Animals
Many small water animals eat duckweed, including the Columbian watermeal. These can be:
- Fish
- Ducks and other water birds
- Insects
It's a quick and easy food source for them.
Cleaning Water
Tiny plants like watermeal can help keep water clean. They take in nutrients from the water. This can help reduce pollution in ponds and lakes.
Oxygen Production
Like all green plants, Columbian watermeal performs photosynthesis. This process releases oxygen into the water. Oxygen is important for fish and other aquatic life to breathe.
Images for kids
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Wolffia columbiana from a pond in Laimergrube in Stammersdorf, Vienna-Floridsdorf
