It is a floating freshwater aquatic plant, with one, two or three leaves, every one with a single hanging root in the water; as more leaves develop, the plants divide and emerge as separate individuals. Duckweed is adaptable, rapid-developing, hardy, and has no particular necessities, but is commonly considered a pest.
In appropriate situations it spreads fast, and a small croup may grow to cover the surface of a median aquarium within a week. The lightly colored green, oval leaves are 0.12 in (3 mm) long and the root is 1-2 cm in length.
If regularly trimmed, the plant may be very effective in an open type aquarium. Duckweed appears better as a decorative plant when kept together with other floating species, such as water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), Azolla spp., or Salvinia spp. It regenerates usually by division.
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