Plants of
South Australia
Spirodela punctata
Araceae
Spotted Duckweed,
Thin Duckweed
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 3

Prior names

Landoltia punctata

Lemna punctata

Lemna oligorrhiza

Spirodela oligorrhiza

Common names

Spotted Duckweed

Thin Duckweed

Etymology

Spirodela from the Greek 'speira' meaning a coil, wreath and 'delos' meaning clear, conspicuous; referring to the spiral vessels in the structure of the plant. Punctata from the Latin 'punctatus' meaning spotted

Distribution and status

Found in the southern Mlount Lofty Ranges, Murrayland and the South-east in South Australia, growing in stagnant ponds or slow-running water-ways, edges of tidal flats, in springs and swamps. Also found in all states Native. Common in South Australia.
Herbarium regions: Murray, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Free-floating, sometimes mat-forming, aquatic herb with 2-8 roots to 4 cm, all perforating scale. Thallus (fronds) rounded or broadly obovate, to 5 mm long and 2.5 mm wide, upper surface green, bottom surface often purplish. Fruits are fruits 0.8-1 mm, laterally winged to apex. Seeds are seeds with 10--15 distinct ribs.