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Lemna trisulca - L.

Common Name Star Duckweed
Family Lemnaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Ponds and ditches in all parts of Britain except north Devon and east Cornwall[17]. Mesotrophic, quiet waters rich in calcium, in cool-temperate regions[270].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa, Asia, N. America, Australia
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Water Plants Full sun
Lemna trisulca Star Duckweed


Lemna trisulca Star Duckweed

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 
Lemna trisulca is a PERENNIAL.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to July. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant).
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Pond;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


A poultice of the wetted plant, combined with another plant, has been used in the treatment of swellings[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a sunny position in still water that is rich in nitrates and lime[200]. Duckweed can be a troublesome pond weed though it is easily controlled by simply scooping it out[56, 200]. This scooped out material makes an excellent addition to the compost heap. The growing plant is a good food source for fish and birds, as well as providing cover for creatures in the pond[200]. This species is very suitable for use in cold water aquaria though, like all members of the genus, it can harbour fish parasites[200]. The plant over-winters in temperate areas by means of resting buds which sink to the bottom of the pond in the late autumn and rise again in the spring[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but, since it spreads so rapidly by division, it really needs no extra help once it is in a pond.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation (Buryatia, Yakutia-Sakha, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tomsk, Tyumen), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation (Habarovskij kraj, Primorye, Amur, Kamcatskij kraj), China (Guizhou Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, Yunnan Sheng), Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu, Shikoku), Taiwan TROPICAL ASIA: India, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Arkansas, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur, Ciudad de México, México) AUSTRALASIA: Australia (Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, Northern Territory) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Russian Federation (Astrakhan, Orenburg, Saratov, Volgogradskaja oblast), Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Lemna gibbaGibbous Duckweed, Swollen duckweed, Windbags, DuckweedPerennial0.2 4-11 F NWa30 
Lemna minorDuckweed, Common duckweedPerennial0.0 4-8   NWa123
Spirodela polyrrhizaGreat Duckweed, Common duckmeatPerennial0.0 4-8 FLMHNWa12 
Wolffia arrhizaLeast Duckweed, Spotless watermealPerennial0.0 6-9  LMHNWa40 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200270

Links / References

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