Vegetative key to the families
Vegetative Key Vegetative key to the families
FREE FLOATING WATER PLANTS; roots, when present, not rooted in the mud. (Note: there are 2 genera of ferns which are free floating, see Azolla and Salvinia)
Whole plant not exceeding 5 mm long Lemnaceae
Roots present on the undersurface
Floating on the surface. Cladodes thick, opaque, broad-ovate to elliptic, 1–4 mm long, stalkless. In still water. Widespread but uncommon in the area. Fl. summer Lemna disperma
Floating beneath the surface. Cladodes thin, translucent, narrow-oblong to lanceolate, 2–8 mm long, stalked when mature. Picton Lakes; Eastlakes. In still water Lemna trisulca