Wolffia globosa

Wolffia globosa
W. globosa (small) with Spirodela polyrrhiza (larger)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Lemnoideae
Genus: Wolffia
Species: W. globosa
Binomial name
Wolffia globosa
(Roxb.) Hartog & Plas

Wolffia globosa is a species of flowering plant known by the common name Asian watermeal. It is native to Asia and is found in parts of the Americas, where it may be native or naturalized. It grows in mats on the surface of calm, freshwater bodies, such as ponds, lakes, and marshes. It is a very tiny, oval-shaped plant with no leaves, stems, or roots. The body of the plant, a transparent green frond, is less than a millimeter wide. Like other Wolffia, the plant is edible and makes a nutritious food.

Wolffia globosa has been described as the world's smallest flowering plant, at 0.1–0.2 mm (0.004–0.008 in) in diameter.[1]

Known in Thai as Pham (ผํา), it is a popular item in Thai cuisine, especially in Isan.[2]

References


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/26/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.