Gibbous duckweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gibbous duckweed |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lemna
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| Species: |
gibba
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Lemna gibba, also known as gibbous duckweed, swollen duckweed, or fat duckweed, is a tiny floating plant. It's a type of duckweed, which are some of the smallest flowering plants on Earth. This plant has a simple body, called a thallus. It looks like a small, green, flat leaf. This "leaf" floats right on top of the water. Each plant is usually about 3 to 5 millimeters wide. A single root hangs down from the plant into the water below. You can find Lemna gibba in many still or slow-moving water places. It can also grow on wet mud or damp rocks.
Where Does Duckweed Grow?
Lemna gibba is found in many parts of the world. It grows in temperate areas. These are places with mild climates, not too hot or too cold. You can find it across Europe, including Great Britain. It also grows all the way to the Himalayas in Asia. This duckweed is common in Africa, South America, and North America.
In Britain, this duckweed is one of the most common small water plants. It often forms thick, green mats. These mats can completely cover the surface of still water. This makes the water look solid. It is widespread throughout Great Britain. However, it is not found in much of Scotland or Shetland. In Ireland, you will mostly find it in the north and east. This species has a very wide global distribution. It is only absent from very cold polar areas and very hot tropical regions.
How Duckweed Spreads
This duckweed mostly spreads by making copies of itself. This is called vegetative reproduction. It means new plants grow directly from the parent plant. They don't need seeds. Sometimes, small flowers can appear. This happens in shallow water when the plant gets lots of sunlight.
In some parts of England, there was a old story about duckweed. Children were sometimes told about a pond elf or monster called Jenny Green-teeth. People said her presence was shown by the duckweed covering the pond. This story was used to keep children away from dangerous ponds.
See also
In Spanish: Lemna gibba para niños
