Scientists recently discovered that the largest organism on Earth is a fungus located in a forest in Michigan. However, it is possible that one day the title of “largest” might be passed to an entire ecosystem, including even its tiniest elements—microbes and the smallest plants in the world. Especially since these microscopic organisms can be so numerous that they seriously impact the lives of higher beings, including us humans. Let me explain.
1 Algae
These plants often interfere with our activities: they can ruin someone’s vacation or, on the contrary, destroy all life in water bodies, or even harm health. Single-celled algae are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye, making them the smallest plants in the world.
2 Mosses
Mosses, or bryophytes, are plants, unlike lichens, which can be even smaller. This vast moss kingdom includes tens of thousands of species. Like algae, they take second place in our top list as a whole class, otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough room for all the others!
3 Wolffia globosa
Finally, here is a real plant with everything you would expect to find in a flower during the first year of biology studies. This is the smallest flowering plant in the world. Wolffia measures 1-2 mm and looks like many tiny green clumps in the water.
4 Wolffia arrhiza
This plant reproduces by division, almost constantly. It only sinks to the bottom of water bodies in winter to survive. Due to its small size, it’s very difficult to see individual plants, which measure just 1.5 mm.
5 Duckweed
Wolffia should not be confused with duckweed, which is larger. Of its 25 species, some reach up to 1 cm in diameter. There are other differences too—duckweed has thick leaves and roots, though its root is more like a rudder and weight.
6 Tiny Orchid Platystele jungermannioides
The genus Platystele includes 95 of the smallest orchids in the world, but this one is the smallest of them all. Its delicate, semi-transparent flowers are only 2.1 mm in diameter, and the flowering plants, when clustered together, are so small that they are often mistaken for moss. It grows in Ecuador.
7 Viola lilliputana
The dwarf violet is a very rare species of violet that grows on only one plateau in Peru. This 1 cm tall rarity was first described in 2012 when it was recognized as a distinct species of violet.
8 Blossfeldia liliputana
The smallest cactus in the world, not exceeding 1.5 cm in height, also carries the name “dwarf.” It grows exclusively on rocks, cannot tolerate soil, and has an interesting ability—when completely dried out, it can revive after being watered.
9 Lithops
Lithops are not as demanding but look very much like stones; in fact, they are called “living stones.” These unique plants have found a place in flower pots. Measuring no more than 5 cm in diameter and height, they come in various colors.
10 Dwarf Willow
The smallest tree on the planet, the dwarf willow, grows to a maximum height of 10 cm. Some scientists consider it a shrub, but with such a small size, it still makes it to the 10th place in our top list!
