Also known as Columbia Water-Meal · Columbia Watermeal · Columbian Duckmeal
Watermeal (Wolffia columbiana) is the smallest flowering plant, a free-floating aquatic with tiny, green, oval-shaped fronds, often covering the water surface.
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Optimal
75% intensity
Prefers bright, indirect sunlight. Direct sun can cause overheating and excessive algal growth.
Essential
100% intensity
Maintain a consistently moist, floating environment in still or slow-moving fresh water.
Does not require soil; floats on water
50% intensity
Moderate
50% intensity
Thrives in warm temperatures, typically between 18-25°C. Avoid freezing conditions.
Aquatic
50% intensity
Sparingly
25% intensity
Can benefit from diluted liquid aquatic fertilizer, but overfeeding promotes algae.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
| Edible | Yes |
Non-toxic
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Watermeal requires consistently moist conditions, essentially living floating on the surface of still or slow-moving fresh water. Maintain a water depth that fully supports the plants, preventing them from drying out.
Avoid strong currents which can wash them away. Regular top-ups are needed to compensate for evaporation.
Pruning is generally not applicable to Wolffia columbiana as they are free-floating plants.
If populations become excessively dense, manual thinning may be necessary to prevent overcrowding and improve light penetration for the entire colony. Remove excess plant matter to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Propagation is exceptionally rapid and occurs through budding. New plantlets develop directly from the parent frond and detach, quickly forming new colonies.
Natural reproduction is so efficient that harvesting portions to start new cultures is very straightforward and readily achieved by division.
Repotting is not a relevant concept for Wolffia columbiana as they are free-floating aquatic plants. They do not have roots that anchor them to a substrate.
To expand or move a colony, simply transfer a portion of the existing floating mass to a new suitable aquatic environment.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Watermeal (Wolffia columbiana)
Where Watermeal (Wolffia columbiana) is found
Density
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Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Alismatales |
| Family | Araceae |
| Genus | Wolffia |
| Species | Wolffia columbiana |
Similar in genus Wolffia
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data
