The Shortest Flower in the World
The shortest (smallest) flower in the world belongs to watermeal (Wolffia spp.), specifically Wolffia globosa (Asian watermeal), which is the world's smallest flowering plant.
The entire plant measures only 0.1–0.2 mm (0.004–0.008 inches) in diameter, appearing as tiny green specks that look like pepper flakes floating on water surfaces. Remarkably, Wolffia has no leaves, stems, or roots—just a transparent green frond less than 1 mm wide. Its flower is incredibly simple, consisting of just a single pistil and stamen.
The fruit is also the world's smallest fruit (utricle), measuring about 0.25 mm long and weighing only 70 micrograms. The entire plant weighs about 1/190,000 of an ounce, roughly equivalent to two grains of salt.
Wolffia is a duckweed in the family Araceae found worldwide in freshwater ponds and slow-moving water. While Wolffia angusta was previously recognized by Guinness World Records as the smallest flowering plant at 0.6 mm, W. globosa is now recognized as even smaller at just 0.1–0.2 mm.
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