Lemna minuta Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth (L. minima Philippi, L. minuscula Herter) (Am.) – An increasingly naturalised but still insufficiently known species. First recorded in 1983 (Lawalrée 1984) and at present probably rather widespread in Belgium but still much confused with native Lemna minor. Usually very competitive and locally forming dense, almost monospecific stands.
Lemna minuta is usually rather typical but individual fronds may be hardly separable from L. minor. As a rule, fronds are conspicuously longer than wide (elliptic) and always have a very distinct longitudinal ridge on the upper side.
A very similar species from the same section Uninerves, Lemna valdiviana Phil., was recently reliably recorded from Europe (Italy; see Iberite & al. 2011). It may have been largely overlooked. It is best characterised by its very asymetric, more or less sickle-shaped fronds that are at least twice as long as wide.
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| Lemna minuta |
Lemna minuta mixed with Spirodela polyrrhiza |
Selected literature:
Ahlmer W., Diewald W., Klotz J. & Schleier V. (2015) Lemna minuta seit 2007 neu im bayerischen Donaugebiet. Hoppea 76: 138-140.
Ceschin S., Leacche I., Pascucci S. & Abati S. (2016) Morphological study of Lemna minuta Kunth, an alien species often mistaken for the native L. minor L. (Araceae). Aquatic Botany 131: 51-56. [available online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297682196_Morphological_study_o...
Hussner A. (2006) Die aquatischen Neophyten in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Decheniana 159: 39-50.
Iberite M., Iamonico D., Abati S. & Abbate G. (2011) Lemna valdiviana Phil. (Araceae) as a potential invasive species in Italy and Europe: Taxonomic study and first observations on its ecology and distribution. Plant Biosystems 145(4): 751-757.
Lawalrée A. (1984) Lemna minuscula Herter, nouveau pour la flore belge. Dumortiera 28: 5-7.
Leslie A.C. & Walters S.M. (1983) The occurrence of Lemna minuscula Herter in the British Isles. Watsonia 14: 243-248.
Verloove F. (2002) Ingeburgerde plantensoorten in Vlaanderen. Mededeling van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud n° 20: 227 p.
Verloove F. (2006b) Lemna minuta. In: Van Landuyt W., Hoste I., Vanhecke L., Van den Bremt P., Vercruysse W. & De Beer D., Atlas van de flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels gewest. Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Nationale Plantentuin van België en Flo.Wer: 531.