Wolffiella gladiata — sword-like bog-mat
![Thalli: Wolffiella gladiata. ~ By Gordon Morrison. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Araceae/wolffiella-gladiata-ta-gmorrison.jpg)
![Roots: Wolffiella gladiata. ~ By Julian A. Steyermark. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~ Allison Brock, Allison.Brock[at]mobot.org ~ Steyermark, Julian A. 1963. The Flora of Missouri. The Iowa State U. Press, Ames, IA. 1725pp.](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Araceae/wolffiella-gladiata-ro-jsteyermark1.jpg)
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Facts
Wolffiella gladiata is a native, free-floating, rootless, aquatic plant. It is found throughout much of the eastern half of the United States, though it is rare in the New England region.
Habitat
Lacustrine (in lakes or ponds), riverine (in rivers or streams)
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- aquatic
- New England state
- Massachusetts
- Roots
- there are no roots on the plant
- Thallus shape in cross-section
- the thallus is somewhat flattened on at least one side in cross-section
- Thallus length
- 3–9 mm
- Thallus shape
-
- the thallus is another shape in outline
- the thallus is very narrow with more or less parallel sides
- Thallus dimensions
- 4–20
- Veins on upper surface
- 0
-
Flowers
- Scale surrounding flower
- no
- Stamen number
- 1
-
Fruits or seeds
- Fruit length
- 0.3–0.4 mm
- Seed surface ribbed
- the seed surface is nearly smooth
-
Growth form
- Root length
- 0 mm
- Root number
- 0
- Root sheath winged at base
- NA
- Roots
- there are no roots on the plant
- Roots perforating basal scale
- NA
- Thallus dimensions
- 4–20
- Thallus edge
- the edge of the thallus is smooth (without teeth) near the tip
- Thallus length
- 3–9 mm
- Thallus shape
-
- the thallus is another shape in outline
- the thallus is very narrow with more or less parallel sides
- Thallus shape in cross-section
- the thallus is somewhat flattened on at least one side in cross-section
- Thallus width
- 0.4–0.7 mm
- Thallus with red pigment
- no
- Turions
- no
-
Leaves
- Papilla on thallus
- no
- Veins on upper surface
- 0
-
Place
- Habitat
- aquatic
- New England state
- Massachusetts
- Specific habitat
-
- in lakes or ponds
- in rivers or streams
Wetland status
Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- absent
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- absent
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- absent
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
1. Wolffiella gladiata (Hegelm.) Hegelm. NC
sword-like bog-mat. Wolffia floridana (J.D. Sm.) J.D. Sm. ex Hegelm.; W. gladiata Hegelm.; W. gladiata Hegelm. var. floridana J.D. Sm.; Wolffiella floridana (J.D. Sm.) C.H. Thompson • MA. Still or slow-moving, mesotrophic water of lakes and streams.
Native to North America?
Yes
Synonyms
- Wolffia floridana (J.D. Sm.) J.D. Sm. ex Hegelm.
- Wolffia gladiata Hegelm.
- Wolffia gladiata Hegelm. var. floridana J.D. Sm.
- Wolffiella floridana (J.D. Sm.) C.H. Thompson