Asian Journal of Research in Biology

Duckweeds (Lemnaceae) are small, free-floating aquatic angiosperms that commonly occur in nutrient-rich water bodies. The present study documented duckweed diversity in selected water bodies of Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu, India, and identified the collected samples using morphological, reproductive and microscopic characters. Eleven samples were collected from selected sites in Rajapalayam, Sivakasi and Srivilliputhur taluks and maintained in Hoagland nutrient medium. Based on the characters examined, three genera and five species were recorded: Spirodela intermedia, Spirodela polyrhiza, Lemna gibba, Lemna aequinoctialis and Wolffia globosa. Spirodela intermedia was recorded in all three taluks and was the most widely distributed species, whereas L. aequinoctialis was recorded in only one taluk. The study provides a locality-based baseline of duckweed occurrence in the surveyed water bodies. Because the identifications were based primarily on morphology and microscopy, further surveys incorporating voucher specimens and molecular markers are recommended to confirm species boundaries and distribution patterns.