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Montana Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Dotted Watermeal - Wolffia borealis

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Status Under Review
Undetermined Origin

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: SU
C-value:


Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:


 

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General Description
Thallus elliptic from above, often acute to obtuse at the end, the upper surface flattened and emersed, the pointed apical end raised, brown-punctate on both sides (when dry) and dark green above (Kaul, 1986, Flora of the Great Plains).

Diagnostic Characteristics
Montana species of the Duckweed Family are all small, perennial, free-floating, aquatic herbs distinguished. In this family the term "leaf" cannot be used because a leaf consists of a stem (petiole) and a blade (Landolt in FNA 2000). Instead the term "frond" is used. Be aware that species can grow in the same place naturally.

Lemna - Duckweed, native
* Fronds: Green above and mostly below.
* Root: 1 per frond, sometimes absent.
* Veins: 1-3 per frond.

Spirodela - Duck-meal, native
* Fronds: Green above and usually purplish below.
* Roots: 2 or more per frond
* Veins: 3 or more per frond.

Wolffia - Water-meal, native
* Fronds: Green to brown; round.
* Root: 0; absent.
* Veins: 0; absent.

Range Comments
Across much of Canada and U.S., although mostly absent in southwest and southeast (Kartesz in prep. 2012).

Habitat
Found in quiet waters.

References
  • Additional ReferencesLegend:   View Online Publication
    Do you know of a citation we're missing?
    • Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
    • Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
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Citation for data on this website:
Dotted Watermeal — Wolffia borealis.  Montana Field Guide.  .  Retrieved on , from