🌱 Duckweed (Lemna minor): Floating Microplant of the Sella River
Duckweed (Lemna minor) is a small floating aquatic plant, very common in stagnant or slow-moving waters of the Sella River basin. Unlike other aquatic plants, it has no roots anchored to the bottom, allowing it to drift freely across the water’s surface.
This plant, belonging to the Araceae family, reproduces through vegetative budding: a natural form of cloning where tiny identical replicas sprout, detach, and grow independently. Thanks to this mechanism, Lemna minor can quickly form extensive floating green carpets that cover ponds, meanders, and calm stretches of the Sella.
📍 Presence in the Sella River
We can find duckweed colonies in various parts of the Sella where the current is absent or very slow, especially near bridges, banks with dense vegetation, or old fishing spots. These green patches, visible from the riverbank, are a sign of good nutrient quality in the water and are a fundamental part of the river ecosystem.
tag: river sella flora – duckweed
