Spirodela sp.
Duckmeat, Duckmeat
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Family: Araceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Spirodela sp. (Duckmeat) is a native California perennial in the Araceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Lemna: Spirodela has 7-16 roots per frond; Lemna has just 1 root.; vs Nasturtium: Spirodela is a tiny floating disc; Nasturtium has obvious separate leaves and stems above water.; vs Azolla: Spirodela fronds are smooth green discs; Azolla looks like tiny ferns with overlapping scale-like leaves.; vs Landoltia: Spirodela has 7-16 roots; Landoltia has 2-7 roots per frond.; vs Wolffiella: Spirodela has 7-16 roots; Wolffiella is completely rootless and ribbon-shaped.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spirodela sp. native to California?
Yes. Spirodela sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Spirodela sp. belong to?
Spirodela sp. is in the Araceae family, genus Spirodela.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.