Wolffia globosa
Asian watermeal
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Araceae · Type: Herb · Native
Wolffia globosa (Asian watermeal) is a native California herb in the Araceae family, recognized by smallest size, cylindrical shape, and budding collar feature.
Asian watermeal is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada foothills, San Joaquin Valley, and southern California coastal regions in interior valley ponds at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from late spring to fall, this tiny aquatic plant produces nearly invisible green flowers. Growing as an extremely minute plant just 0.4 to 0.8 millimeters long, it forms transparent green cylindrical bodies that float delicately on water surfaces. Its tiny body is characterized by a slightly convex upper surface with 1 to 10 stomates, barely rising above the water's surface. This diminutive aquatic plant uniquely reproduces through small budding pouches with distinctive long-celled collars connecting daughter plants.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished by smallest size, cylindrical shape, and budding collar feature
Habitat and range
Habitat: Ponds of interior valleys
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: worldwide, especially tropics
Bloom period
Wolffia globosa blooms Late spring-fall.
How to tell it apart
vs Lemna: Wolffia is spherical and 0.4-1.3 mm; Lemna is disc-shaped, larger, and has a root.; vs Landoltia: Wolffia is spherical, rootless, and 0.4-1.3 mm; Landoltia has 2-7 roots and is much larger.; vs Spirodela: Wolffia is spherical, rootless, and 0.4-1.3 mm; Spirodela has 7-16 roots and is much larger.; vs Wolffiella: Wolffia is spherical like caviar; Wolffiella is flat and ribbon-shaped.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wolffia globosa native to California?
Yes. Wolffia globosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Wolffia globosa bloom?
Wolffia globosa blooms Late spring-fall.
What plant family does Wolffia globosa belong to?
Wolffia globosa is in the Araceae family, genus Wolffia.
What habitat does Wolffia globosa grow in?
Wolffia globosa grows in Ponds of interior valleys.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.