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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE DUCKWEED FAMILY | |||||||||
| The duckweeds are one of the smallest flowering plants on earth! Some plants are less than 2 mm long. These plants are floating or underwater herbs and are easily overlooked. In fact, some species may be mistaken for algae and do not have roots. The plants reproduce by asexual budding, as well as by flowering. The flowers are produced in a pouch at the base of the leaves. The male flowers are made of one stamen, and occasionally a small bract. The female flowers are made of one pistil. The fruit is a 1-seeded fruit called a utricle. | |||||||||
| COLUMBIAN WATERWEED | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Wolffia columbiana | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Columbian waterweed does not have roots. This floating plant has leaves less than 1.5 mm in diameter. The leaves are about as long and deep as wide, making them globular in shape. The leaves are green throughout. The flower pouch is found at the base of the leaf, where the daughter leaves originate. This plant has overwintering shoots called turions, which are smaller than the leaves. The seeds are rounds and nearly smooth. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Columbian waterweed is a floating aquatic in quiet waters of small lakes, ponds, or sloughs. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in central Saskatchewan in the Boreal Transition ecoregion. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Columbian waterweed is endangered in Saskatchewan because it is rare and the Saskatchewan populations are separated from the main distribution of this species. In addition, this species is likely underreported due to its aquatic growth habit and because it very small and often grows among other closely related species. No immediate threats are known for this species. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY COLUMBIAN WATERWEED | |||||||||
| * Are the roots absent? * Are the plants very tiny? * Are the leaves globular? * Did you find it in central Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found Columbian waterweed! | |||||||||
