 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 The Diminutive and Prolific Common Duckweed

   November 02, 2021


    PattiW_DSC09886 (003)

    PattiW_DSC09921 (003)

   Photographer:  Patti Weeks

   Summary Author:  Patti Weeks

   The photo above at top shows tiny  common duckweed plants floating
   on and around a decaying American  lotus lily pad. They inhabit a
   shallow, still-water pond on the inland side of a boardwalk along the
   Pamlico River on the Washington, North Carolina waterfront. The bottom
   photo reveals a broader view of the extensive mat of duckweed, covering
   virtually the entire surface of the lily pond. Both photos were taken
   in September, 2021, at about the mid-life cycle of both plants.

   The common  duckweed (Lemna minor), along with other duckweed
   species, is the smallest known flowering plant, and is native
   throughout most of Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. The
   individual plant has 1–4 flat, oval leaves that are only 1/8 to 1/4
   inch long (0.3 to 0.6 cm).  Each plant has one single hanging root,
   and often contains a tiny hidden flower in a pouch-like sac. Its
    asexual reproduction is done by the intertwining of new stems from
   buds. Also, a turion can break from the parental stem and sink to the
   pond’s bottom to overwinter and resurface in the Spring to become a new
   bud.

   By November, the duckweed and the lotus’s decayed lily pads and seeds
   will have sunk to the bottom of the pond, and the plants will re-emerge
   in the Spring to start their life cycles again. Because of its rapid
   growth, duckweed can often be a  nuisance in homeowners’ ponds, but
   it’s an important food source for waterfowl and fish. It’s used for
   livestock feed and can also be used as a  bioremediator of
   environmental and wastewater pollutants. In addition, research shows
   that duckweed has promising value in the creation of biomedicines.

   Photo details: Top - SONY DSC-RX10 IV camera; 120.91 mm focal length;
   f/4; 1/1000 second exposure; ISO 100. Bottom - Same except 8.8 mm focal
   length.
     * Pamlico River, Washington, North Carolina Coordinates:  35.5523849
       - 77.0846757

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Plant Links

     *  Discover Life
     *  Tree Encyclopedia
     *  What are Phytoplankton?
     *  Encyclopedia of Life - What is a Plant?
     *  USDA Plants Database
     *  University of Texas Native Plant Database
     *  Plants in Motion
     *  What Tree is It?

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   Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities
   Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu
 
