Wolffia

Wolffia is a genus of 9 to 11 species which include the smallest flowering plants on Earth. Commonly called watermeal, these aquatic plants resemble specks of cornmeal floating on the water. Wolffia species are free-floating thalii, green or yellow-green, and without roots. The flower is produced in a depression on the top surface of the plant body. It has one stamen and one pistil.

Individuals often float together in pairs or form floating mats with related plants, such as Lemna and Spirodela species. Most species have a very wide distribution across several continents. Wolffia species are composed of about 40% protein, about the same as the soybean, making them a potential high-protein human food source. They have historically been collected from the water and eaten as a vegetable in much of Asia.


Species
Wolffia brasiliensis - Brazilian watermeal
Wolffia borealis - northern watermeal
Wolffia globosa - Asian watermeal
Wolffia columbiana - Columbian watermeal
Wolffia arrhiza - spotless watermeal

Eleutherococcus

Eleutherococcus is a genus of 38 species of thorny shrubs and trees in the family Araliaceae. They are native to eastern Asia, from southeast Siberia and Japan south to the Philippines, with the greatest diversity in central and western China.... more >>>

Bacopa

The Bacopa is a genus of 70 - 100 aquatic plants belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. Commonly known as Water Hyssop. They are annual or perennial, decumbent or erect stemmed plants. The leaves are opposite or whorled, sessile. Leaf blade... more >>>

Holly (Ilex)

Holly (Ilex) is a genus of about 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. One other genus, the monotypic Nemopanthus (Mountain Holly), was formerly separated from Ilex on the basis... more >>>

Fenestraria

Fenestraria is a monotypic genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae. The species is also called babies toes or window plant. On each leaf there is transparent window-like area at the top, it is for these window-like structures that... more >>>

Umbellularia

Umbellularia californica is a tree native to coastal forests of western North America. Its pungent leaves have a similar flavor to bay leaves (though stronger), and it may be mistaken for Bay Laurel.

In Oregon, this tree is... more >>>