Characteristic Forms 

Strictly the Lemnaceae, most primitive  (Lemoideae)		Woffiella, those more advanced (Wolffioideae)
Lemna forms: Lemna aequinoctialis  Lemna gibba  Lemna minor  Lemna minuta  Lemna trisulca  Lemna turionifera  Lemna valdivana		Spirodela forms: Spirodela polyrrhiza  Spirodela punctata
Wolffia forms: Wolffia arrhiza  Wolffia borealis  Wolffia brasiliensis  Wolffia columbiana  Wolffia globosa		Wolffiella forms: Wolffiella lingulata  Wolffiella oblonga

 Subfamily Lemnaceae  is characterized:

• by the presence of one root or beam of several roots,
• by two lateral pockets on the fronds,
• by the single inflorescence, included within the thin scale covering, consisting of two male and one female flower. 

• they lack roots,
• they have one basal pocket,
• they have one (or less frequently two) flowering pits on the dorsal surface, situated to the right and to the left of the center line of the frond,
• they have a single inflorescence (less frequently 2), consisting of one female and one male flower, without a scale covering. 

Ivy-leaf duckweed forms long, sometimes branching, spiral-shaped chains/networks from 3 - 22, and sometimes also to 50 fronds.  Falling into the depth of the reservoir, where it is little light, this chain/network of duckweed fronds can be rounded, elliptical, oblong, elongated or lancate.  Their sizes/dimensions are very small.

Two small duckweeds, Lemna perpusilla (from the eastern part of North America) and Lemna minuscula (from North and South America), both measure 1 - 2.5 mm in length, and 0.7 - 2 and 0.7 - 1.5 mm in width respectively.  The length of the largest form - ivy-leaf duckweed - on the long axis measures 5 - 20 mm, and in width  2.5 - 5 mm.  Most duckweed fronds are symmetrical and flat/planar.  Only swollen duckweed (Lemna gibba), which grows in Western Europe and South America, and Lemna disperma, from South Australia and New Zealand have an apparent convexity on the lower side, filled with aeriferous cavities, distinctly visible in the transverse sections (A.L.Takhtadzhyan, 1982).

The forms of Wolffia, in contrast to the rest, possess a volumetric and thick, sometimes sealed on the dorsal side, frond of globular, oval or egg-shaped form.  They always sail on the surface of the water.  Wolffia are the smallest flowering plant in the world, and rarely exceed 1 mm in length or width.  In our latitudes there is a rootless Wolffia, (Wolffia arrhiza).  To the naked eye this tiny plant is difficult to view; but its colonies are easily noticed and resemble the spots of coffee on the water because of a brown pigment that is contained in the cells of epidermis.  The presence of this pigment is characteristic for all Wolffioideae, whereas druses are not formed in them.

The sizes/dimensions and forms of fronds of Wolffioideae to a considerable degree depend on the season.  In California, for example, fronds of Wolffiella of oval form have maximum sizes and greatest variety of forms in the winter months.

Those blooming the plant of Wolffioideae are encountered sufficiently rarely and for a long time scientists considered that Wolffioideae had lost the ability to flower.  Only in 1935 did scientists identify flowering in Wolffia oblonga found growing in Argentina.

Under unfavorable conditions, including the cold of winter, Wolffioideae turions survive by sinking to the bottom.  These turions are similar, for example in Wolffia, to the form and the sizes/dimensions of normal fronds, but are heavier because of they are filled with starch.

 Brief characteristics of the forms encountered in the Kuban area: 
 

	Lesser duckweed (Lemna minor L.) - plant floating on the water.  Size/dimension of fronds 2-4 mm. the number of veins - 3.  Frond flat/planar, forming groups of 3 - 6 plants.  It is encountered in standing water.  In the lowlands and in the foothills.  Food for the birds.
	Swollen duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) - the lower side of fronds is strongly convex, grows to 7 mm in length.  Green or reddish.  Number of veins 3 sometimes 5.  They are arranged/located with single plants or groups of 2 - 5 fronds.
	Ivy-leaf duckweed (Lemna trisulca L.) Plant immersed in the water.  Stems in the form of oblong- lancate plates, 6 - 10 mm, the number of veins - 3.  Frequently the plants remain connected in groups of 8 - 30 fronds.
	Greater duckweed (Spirodella polyrrhiza (L.) Schleid.  Fronds in the form of rounded plates from 6 to 10 mm in length, that float on the water, from below reddish. Veins from 7 to 12.  Colonies from 2 to 5 plants are formed.  It is encountered in estuaries, quiet creeks and the ponds.  In the valley of Kubans.  Food plant for birds.
	Water meal (Wolffia arrhiza (L.) Wimm. - plant floating.  Stems globular- are oval, about 1 mm of long, single or paired.  Veins are absent.  It is encountered in standing water.  Food for birds (I.S.Kosenko, 1970).