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 absent Wolffia
Cladode widest at the water surface, at least twice as deep as wide
Cladodes green, shining on the upper surface, up to 1 mm long, ± convex, rounded on the edges, with 50–80 stomata on the upper surface. Widespread. Still water, usually in grazing land Wolffia australiana
Cladodes whitish green in the centre of the upper surface, green towards the edges, up to 0.8 mm long, flat near the apex, acute on the edges, with up to 25 stomata on the upper surface. Coast and Cumberland Plain Wolffia angusta