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Lemna aequinoctialis

Welw. (1859)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Alismatales Family: Araceae Genus: Lemna

lesser duckweed, water lentil

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Floating aquatic herb.

Stems: Stipes small, white, often decaying.

Roots: Roots to 3 cm; tip usually sharp pointed; sheath winged at base (wing 1–2.5 times as long as wide).

Leaves: Leaves absent. Fronds floating, 1 or 2–few, coherent in groups, 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. Fronds 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. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers borne in a pouch, 2 staminate and 1 pistillate, enclosed in a membranous sheath in a marginal cleft of the frond, opening along the side or nearly closed. Flowers unisexual, 1(--2) per frond, surrounded by small utricular, membranous scale. Calyx absent. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 2, 4-locular. Ovary superior; ovaries 1–ovulate, utricular scale open on 1 side.

Fruit: Fruit 0.5–0.8 mm; not winged. Seeds with 8–26 distinct ribs; falling out of fruit wall after ripening.

Ploidy: 2n = 40; 42; 50; 60; 80; 84

Habitat: Mesotrophic to eutrophic; quiet waters in warm–temperate to tropical regions.

Elevation Range: 0–1,300 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Indigenous or Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Indigenous or Naturalized
O'ahu Indigenous or Naturalized
Molokai Indigenous or Naturalized
Maui Indigenous or Naturalized
Hawai'i Indigenous or Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Apont.: 578 (1859)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1457 (K, O, Mo, M, H? [as L. perpusilla, reported but spm. from H]); Wagner et al. 1997:58 (H, L. perpusilla misapplied = L. aequinoctialis, KEY); Staples & Herbst 2005:675 (DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Lemna aequinoctialis Manoa Valley, near new bridge In taro patch Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1934-02-11
2 Lemna aequinoctialis Kailua; edge of Kaelepulu Pond N & W borders Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1940-05-30
3 Lemna aequinoctialis Floating, Wailoa estuary, Hilo Preserved_Specimen Green Below. Stemmermann, R.L. 7184 Hawaii BISH 1987-07-25
4 Lemna aequinoctialis Westley Wongs Taro Farm, Waiehu, Maui Floating on surface of taro loi. Preserved_Specimen I-2 fronds, 1 root, tiny. Crago, L.M. 2005182 Maui BISH 2005-08-10
5 Lemna aequinoctialis Palaau Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 621 Molokai BISH 1915-03-27
6 Lemna aequinoctialis Lihue, Kauai In ditches Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Kauai BISH 1909-07-01
7 Lemna aequinoctialis Private lotus farm, Waialua Beach Rd, Waialua Tiny, floating on surface of water. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9245 Oahu BISH 1992-04-05
8 Lemna aequinoctialis Nihoa Gulch, Kaena. Clinging to a wet cliff Foot of waterfall. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 11146 Oahu BISH 1931-11-15
9 Lemna aequinoctialis Hanalei Distr., Hanalei Natl. Wildlife Refuge, 1 km north of Hanalei River bridge (S side of Hwy. 56) Growing in taro ponds with Colocasia esculenta. Preserved_Specimen Dense homogeneous population; roots 3 cm long; basal root sheath with two lateral wings; plant body with 3 veins; dorsal surface with prominent apical papule (the closely related L. perpusilla of E. US often has 2-3 papules above the node). Armstrong, W.P. 1337 Kauai BISH 1999-08-17
10 Lemna aequinoctialis Waialua Beach Road and Haleiwa Road, Waialua, Oahu, Hawaii Growing on the top of the water in a Drainage canal across from the Waialua Lotus Ponds on Waialua Beach Road. Preserved_Specimen Tiny floating plant, with 1-3 'fronds', and one root. Crago, L.M. 2005244 Oahu BISH 2005-11-22
11 Lemna aequinoctialis Waeakamoi, Mooloa In patches often 2 or 3 deep on rock wall in road cut, with no seeming relation to the bamboo forest on the high bank above, not in the water in the ditch below. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10292 Maui BISH 1930-02-10
12 Lemna aequinoctialis Waianae Mts., Kealia trail On wet rock wall Preserved_Specimen Selling, O. 3532 Oahu BISH 1938-09-18
13 Lemna aequinoctialis Hanalei Floating on pond with Azolla filiculoides. Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Kauai BISH 1961-10-19
14 Lemna aequinoctialis Morgan Toledo Taro Farm, Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii Taro loi, floating on surface of the water. Preserved_Specimen Tiny one rooted floating plant, 2-3 disc like fronds. Crago, L.M. 2005087 Hawaii BISH 2005-03-19
15 Lemna aequinoctialis Hamakua District, Waipio Valley, taro farm ca. 2 miles into the valley Small floating plant in taro paddy. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9915 Hawaii BISH 1999-06-19
16 Lemna aequinoctialis Kawaihapai Mouth of creek Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10007 Oahu BISH 1929-11-03
17 Lemna aequinoctialis S shore, Kapalawai, makai of Hwy 50 Floating on edge of Kapalawai Pond along with Eichhornia, Schoenoplectus, Cyperus involucratus, Spirodela. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 996 Kauai BISH 1999-03-06
18 Lemna aequinoctialis Honolulu, Waihakalulu, Nuuanu Stream at School Street Bridge Wet place on cement of stream bed. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 27097 Oahu BISH 1946-09-22
19 Lemna aequinoctialis Lihue, Kauai In ditches Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Kauai BISH 1909-07-01
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