family Lemnaceae

The plant itself, from the family Lemnaceae, is non-toxic and grows best in water with low salinity, which makes its presence in salty Lake Maracaibo even more of a mystery In the last few decades salt levels have risen in the lake with increasing oil activity.

Duckweeds are members of the family Lemnaceae. They are small, fast-growing, aquatic plants with relatively simple morphology.