Lemna trisulca

Lemna trisulca is an uncommon Lemna species and not easily identified as such at first glance. Other than the well-known duckweed (Lemna minor and other species), L. trisulca forms floating populations below the waterline. Its crosswise-growing leaflike fronds hang together and thus form large cushions in the water. Every frond has a transparent margin that is toothed at the front.

L. trisulca grows in stagnant waters poor in phosphate with a conductivity of mainly over 100 Mikrosiemens/cm vor, where it is often found floating under the cover of other duckweed species (Lemna, Spirodela). During the winter it keeps growing, forming shorter and wider fronds that sink to the ground, where they keep growing at a slower rate.

To be continued...