Rymill Park lake turns a shade of bright green from infestation of native duckweed

No, it’s not slime ... or algae. Instead, a tiny plant has made Rymill Park lake in the city look like a putting green.

Adelaide’s Rymill Park Lake has taken on the appearance of a giant bowl of pea soup.

Warm weather, nutrient rich water and disruption to lake maintenance has led to an explosion of duckweed, a native plant that has carpeted the parklands attraction.

The naturally occurring plant – actually tiny free-floating plants – can double in size every 48 hours under the right conditions.

Unlike blue-green algae, duckweed is not toxic to humans or animals.

Rymill Park lake doesn’t really resemble a lake at the moment. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Instead, a mat of fast-growing duckweed has made it look like a giant vat of pea soup ... Picture: Tricia Watkinson

... or from some angles, a putting green. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Adelaide City Council city operations associate director Garry Herdegen said regular “mitigation” of the weed was not possible during the Adelaide Fringe “resulting in a build-up of duckweed”.

“Now that the Fringe has bumped out the process to bring the lake back to its normal condition commenced (on Tuesday) and will take approximately three days to complete,” he said.