Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Share

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Lemna trisulca

Lemna trisulca L.

Star Duckweed

Lemnaceae (Duckweed Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: LETR

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

Duckweeds are useful as a water crop as they can acclimatize themselves to almost all growing conditions, with some thriving in manure-rich or eutrophic waters. They reproduce quickly, extending over large surface areas, and are easily harvested. Their high fat and protein content makes them a source of food for animals and poultry.
Duckweeds have potential in wastewater treatment, absorbing excess nutrients from surface waters, including phosphorus and ammonias, reducing suspended solids, and reducing biochemical oxygen demand.
Eaten by Blue Herons and Moose. (Rook)

 

From the Image Gallery

No images of this plant

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Floats on the surface of the water.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Utricle.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DE , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NS , NT , NU , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Habitat: Swamp/Marsh,Fresh Water Aquatic

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Aquatic: yes

Benefit

Attracts: Birds

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lemna trisulca in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lemna trisulca in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lemna trisulca

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-10
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back