What characteristic do duckweed and watermeal share?

Both duckweed and watermeal are small, floating aquatic plants that share the characteristic of being able to reproduce and disperse through seeds. This allows them to thrive on the water's surface, where they can capitalize on sunlight and nutrients. Both species contribute to the formation of a green cover on water bodies, which can impact ecosystems by influencing light penetration and oxygen levels.

The fact that they are seed-bearing highlights their reproductive strategy, which can facilitate rapid expansion in suitable aquatic environments. Understanding this characteristic is essential for managing aquatic ecosystems, especially when considering their potential effects on fish populations and water quality.

In contrast, extensive root systems typically characterize rooted aquatic plants, but duckweed and watermeal usually do not have extensive roots; instead, they have short or even submerged roots that help them stay anchored but do not dominate the substrate. Moving water is not their primary habitat, as they tend to prefer still or gently flowing water. Finally, describing duckweed and watermeal as large plants is misleading since both are among the smallest vascular plants, which means they do not significantly shade other vegetation.