Wolffia globosa

[The World’s Smallest Seed Plant]
Wolffia globosa (Asian watermeal) is considered the smallest seed plant in the world. It is a free-floating aquatic plant without roots, native to Southeast Asia, belonging to the family Araceae, genus Wolffia.

It is also known as Asian watermeal, Kona-ukikusa, or Nuka-ukikusa.
It has naturalized in Japan and other parts of the world (Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, etc.), where it forms mat-like colonies on the still waters of ponds, lakes, and wetlands.

The plant body consists only of a thallus, which is green, minute, and elliptic, measuring 0.1–0.2 mm in diameter. It lacks leaves, stems, roots, petals, and sepals, possessing only stamens and pistils.

It is used as food for medaka fish, for water purification, and as an ingredient in Thai cuisine. Since its thallus contains essential amino acids and vitamin B12, it is expected to become a promising food source for the future.

The genus name Wolffia is derived from the German-Dutch botanist Johann Friedrich Wolff, while the species epithet globosa means “spherical” in Latin, referring to its rounded shape.

Flower Language

“Little Happiness”

General name: Wolffia globosa (Asian watermeal)
Scientific name: Wolffia globosa
Synonyms: Asian watermeal, Kona-ukikusa, Nuka-ukikusa
Classification: Kingdom Plantae → Angiosperms → Monocots → Order Alismatales → Family Araceae → Genus Wolffia → Species Wolffia globosa
Life form: Free-floating aquatic plant
Origin: Southeast Asia; naturalized in Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, Japan, etc.
Habitat: Still freshwater surfaces of ponds, lakes, wetlands
Body: Thallus only
Morphology: Minute elliptic shape, 0.1–0.2 mm, green in color
Leaves, stems, roots, petals, sepals: Absent
Reproductive organs: Stamens and pistils present
Uses: Fish food (for medaka), water purification, Thai cuisine
Note: Contains essential amino acids and vitamin B12, regarded as a potential future food source.

🔗 Related page
Wolffia globosa

Random flowers

Hoya kerriii

Viola grypoceras

Calypso bean

Japanese Iris 'Shiraito no taki'

Michelia compressa

Eranthemum pulchellum