RIZWAN Y. HASHMI & SAOOD OMER

Fronds free floating, broadly ovate to orbicular, dorsal surface greenish, sometime reddish brown, asymmetrical, slightly convex, 2-7 x 2-4 mm, mostly hemispherical and strongly swollen below with large inflated hyaline cells and air spaces and usually with 40-50 meshes and with 3-5 veins; new fronds budding laterally and remaining attached to very short stipes. Flowering cavity lateral, spathe enclosing 2 staminate and 1 pistillate flower. Fruit 1-5-seeded and winged; seed ribbed, utricle rounded.

Fl. Per.: April-August.

Type: Described from Europe (Mich. gen. 15. t.11. f. 2. 1729).

Distribution: Most of Europe, South West Asia, India, Ceylon, NE & South Africa and South America.

Lemna gibba L. is easily differentiated from Lemna minor L. in being gibbous beneath, and by having larger air spaces.