Wolffiella oblonga
Mud midget
Family: Araceae · Type: Herb · Native
Wolffiella oblonga (Mud midget) is a native California herb in the Araceae family, recognized by . Clear morphological differences in body shape and budding pouch cell arrangement.
Mud midget is a California native perennial found in coastal regions including North Coast, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and Southern California coastal areas in coastal and interior valley habitats at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces diminutive white to green flowers. Growing as a small, floating aquatic plant with a flattened upper surface, it forms compact colonies in still water environments. Its plant body is distinctively shaped, not forming a semicircle when viewed from the side, with a unique budding pouch featuring a track of elongated cells along the lower wall. This tiny aquatic plant is an uncommon but intriguing component of California's wetland ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Clear morphological differences in body shape and budding pouch cell arrangement.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Coastal and interior valleys
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: to southeastern United States, South America
Bloom period
Wolffiella oblonga blooms All year.
How to tell it apart
vs Lemna: Wolffiella is rootless and ribbon-shaped; Lemna has 1 root and is rounded.; vs Landoltia: Wolffiella is rootless and ribbon-shaped; Landoltia has 2-7 roots and rounded fronds.; vs Spirodela: Wolffiella is rootless and ribbon-shaped; Spirodela has 7-16 roots and rounded fronds.; vs Wolffia: Wolffiella is flat and ribbon-like; Wolffia is spherical like tiny green caviar.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wolffiella oblonga native to California?
Yes. Wolffiella oblonga is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Wolffiella oblonga bloom?
Wolffiella oblonga blooms All year.
What plant family does Wolffiella oblonga belong to?
Wolffiella oblonga is in the Araceae family, genus Wolffiella.
What habitat does Wolffiella oblonga grow in?
Wolffiella oblonga grows in Uncommon. Coastal and interior valleys.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.