Common Duckweed (Lemna minor) is a small aquatic flowering plant native to the United Kingdom, belonging to the Lemnaceae family. It is one of the smallest flowering plants in the world and is commonly found in still or slow-moving freshwater habitats throughout the UK.

Common Duckweed thrives in nutrient-rich, still waters, often favouring habitats with ample sunlight. It can tolerate a wide range of water conditions, including varying levels of acidity and salinity, making it adaptable to different aquatic environments.

Predators of Common Duckweed include herbivores such as waterfowl, fish, and aquatic invertebrates, which may feed on its foliage. However, its small size and rapid growth rate often make it resilient to grazing pressure.

As a perennial plant, Common Duckweed can live for several years, forming dense floating mats of interconnected plants on the water’s surface. It reproduces primarily through vegetative propagation, with daughter plants budding off from parent plants, allowing it to rapidly colonise suitable habitats.

Culturally, Common Duckweed does not hold significant symbolic or traditional references in the UK. However, it is valued for its ecological role in aquatic ecosystems, where it provides habitat and food for various species of insects, birds, and other wildlife.

An interesting fact about Common Duckweed is its ability to double its biomass in just a few days under ideal conditions, making it one of the fastest-growing plants known. Additionally, its small size and rapid growth rate make it a common nuisance in ponds and waterways, where it can form thick mats that impede water flow and oxygen exchange.