Fauna
Plant

Greater Duckweed

Spirodela polyrhiza

Also known as Common Duckmeat, Great Duckmeat, Giant Duckweed, Duckmeat

Greater duckweed blankets quiet freshwater ponds and slow-moving streams, forming emerald carpets that shade out submerged algae and moderate water temperatures. Each tiny, rounded frond floats freely on the surface, trailing a cluster of multiple roots beneath that absorb dissolved nutrients directly from the water column. As autumn temperatures drop, plants produce starch-rich overwintering buds called turions that sink to the sediment bed and resurface the following spring.

AquaticFloatingFast-Growing
Greater Duckweed reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic (absorbs dissolved minerals via roots and fronds)
Predators
  • Mallard
  • Grass Carp
  • Canada Goose
ThreatsSevere water contamination, herbicide runoff, and physical drainage of wetlands
HabitatsPonds, marshes, oxbow lakes, canals, and slow-moving streams
Life spanIndividual fronds live several weeks; colonies persist indefinitely via vegetative cloning
Classification
  1. OrderAlismatales
  2. FamilyAraceae
  3. GenusSpirodela
  4. SpeciesSpirodela polyrhiza
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Root Inspection: Lift a floating frond gently to count the roots, which distinguish it from single-rooted Lemna species.
  • Underside Check: Look for a deep reddish-purple hue on the underside of mature fronds, a reliable field marker.
Related species
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