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February 7, 2007 : Marsilea mutica
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Keywords: Marsileaceae | Marsilea mutica Mett. | Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco, California
Seventh in the series on Australian plants comes to us courtesy of Eric in SF@Flickr (original image) via the BPotD Flickr Group Pool). As always, it's appreciated, Eric.
Despite resembling plasticky four-leaf clovers, these are actually aquatic ferns. The strong resemblance, though, is reflected in some of its common names: water clover or floating water clover. It is also known as the banded nardoo.
This is a plant of ponds and riverbanks throughout most of Australia, including Tasmania. The flat, broad leaves are representative of one of the two typical leaf morphologies for aquatic plants. Large, flat leaves aid in both flotation and optimal capture of sunlight, and are often found at the water surface. The second typical aquatic leaf form of submerged, fine, narrow leaves is not observed in Marsilea (for an example of such, see Elodea)
Photographs of the plant in habitat can be seen on the New South Wales Flora Online: Marsilea mutica.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at February 7, 2007 12:00 AM
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Posted by: Chuck Robinson at February 7, 2007 9:15 AM
This beautiful photo makes me think that it is St. Patrick's day! Wonderful detail!
Posted by: brandi Gartland at February 7, 2007 10:52 AM
Marsilea mutica - Z9 - RHS Index of Plants, Griffiths
Marsilea mutica - Z9-11 - A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Brickell, Cole, Zuk
Posted by: Beverley at February 7, 2007 12:03 PM
This is a VERY invasive plant that turned up as a volunteer in our pnd in Powhatan VA, USA
Posted by: Jodi Abel at September 14, 2008 2:52 PM
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