Fu Ping

Spirodela polyrhiza

Family: Araceae Genus: Spirodela Species: polyrhiza Pinyin: Fu Ping Latin: Herba Spirodelae

Synonyms: Lemna polyrhiza var. concolor, Spirodela atropurpurea, Lemna umbonata, Lemna orbicularis, Lenticula polyrrhiza, Lemna major, Lemna polyrhiza, Lemna maxima, Lemna bannatica, Lemna transsilvanica, Spirodela polyrhiza var. masonii, Telmatophace orbicularis, Telmatophace polyrhiza, Lemna thermalis, Lemna orbiculata, Spirodela maxima

Greater Duckweed (English) Common Duckweed (English) Water Lentil (English) Fu Ping (Chinese (Pinyin)) 浮萍 (Chinese)

☯ TCM Properties

Category: releasing_exterior

Temperature: cold

Taste: pungent

Meridians: bladder, lung

Functions:

Induces sweating and releases the exterior; Vents rashes and relieves itching; Promotes urination and reduces swelling

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:

diureticdiaphoreticanti-inflammatory

Botanical Description

Spirodela polyrhiza is a free-floating aquatic plant in the duckweed family (Araceae subfamily Lemnoideae). It consists of flat, oval, thallus-like fronds 3-10 mm long and 2-8 mm wide, purple or reddish-purple on the lower surface and dark green on the upper. Each frond has 5-16 roots hanging beneath and produces 1-2 daughter fronds via budding. Flowers and fruits are tiny and rarely produced. It is the largest of the common duckweed species. Whole dried thalli are used medicinally.

Habitat:

Still or slow-moving freshwater bodies including ponds, lakes, rice paddies, ditches, and marshes; found throughout tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions worldwide.

Native Region: Alabama, Albania, Alberta, Altay, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Borneo, Botswana, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Burundi, Buryatiya, California, Central African Repu, Central American Pac, Central European Rus, Chad, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Christmas I., Cocos (Keeling) Is., Colombia, Colorado, Congo, Connecticut, Corse, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Denmark, District of Columbia, Dominican Republic, East European Russia, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Florida, France, Free State, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, India, Indiana, Iowa, Iran, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jawa, Kamchatka, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Kenya, Khabarovsk, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Kuril Is., KwaZulu-Natal, Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Louisiana, Madeira, Maine, Malawi, Malaya, Maluku, Manchuria, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Morocco, Mozambique, Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New South Wales, New York, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Is., North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russi, Northern Territory, Northwest European R, Norway, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Palestine, Panamá, Pennsylvania, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, Qinghai, Queensland, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Rwanda, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Saskatchewan, Senegal, Sicilia, South Australia, South Carolina, South Dakota, South European Russi, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Togo, Transcaucasus, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Tuva, Uganda, Ukraine, Utah, Vermont, Victoria, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Western Australia, Windward Is., Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Conservation Notes:

Spirodela polyrhiza is one of the most widespread aquatic plants on Earth, found on every continent except Antarctica. It is extremely common in suitable freshwater habitats. No conservation concerns.

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional Chinese Uses

Fu Ping (duckweed, Spirodela polyrrhiza) is a cool, acrid herb used to expel Wind-Heat from the Exterior and promote urination. It is helpful for early-stage Wind-Heat invasion with fever and absent sweating, and for facilitating the expression of measles and other rashes erupting slowly. Its light, floating nature also supports urinary function, making it applicable for edema from Wind-Water patterns.

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

83086

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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