Marsilea
Encyclopedia
Marsilea is a genus of approximately 65 species of aquatic
fern
s of the family Marsileaceae
.
These small plants are of unusual appearance and do not resemble common ferns. Common names include water clover and four-leaf clover because the long-stalked leaves have four clover
-like lobes and are either held above water or submerged.
The sporocarps
of some Australian species are very drought-resistant, surviving up to 100 years in dry conditions. On wetting, the gelatinous interior of the sporocarp swells, splitting it and releasing a worm-like mass that carries sori
, eventually leading to germination of spore
s and fertilization.
are edible and have been eaten by Aborigines and early white settlers, who knew it under the name ngardu or nardoo. Parts of Marsilea drummondii contains an enzyme
which destroys thiamine
(vitamin B1), leading to brain damage in sheep and horses. During floods in the Gwydir River
basin 2,200 sheep died after eating nardoo. Three-quarters of the sheep that were affected did however respond to thiamine injections.
The leaves of Marsilea crenata
is part of the East Javanese cuisine of Indonesia
, especially in the city of Surabaya
. It is called Pecel Semanggi and served with spicy peanut and sweet potato sauce.
, Marsilea exarata and Marsilea quadrifolia
, are grown in aquaria
.
Aquatic plant
Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments. They are also referred to as hydrophytes or aquatic macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. Aquatic plants can only grow in water or in soil that is...
fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s of the family Marsileaceae
Marsileaceae
The Marsileaceae are a small family of heterosporous aquatic and semi-aquatic ferns, though at first sight they do not physically resemble other ferns. The group is commonly known as the "pepperwort family" or as the "water-clover family" because the leaves of the genus Marsilea superficially...
.
These small plants are of unusual appearance and do not resemble common ferns. Common names include water clover and four-leaf clover because the long-stalked leaves have four clover
Clover
Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...
-like lobes and are either held above water or submerged.
The sporocarps
Sporocarp (ferns)
A sporocarp is a specialised type of structure found in some ferns whose primary function is the production and release of spores.Among ferns, sporocarps are found only in the three families of the order Salviniales, a group that is both aquatic and heterosporous. The term actually refers to two...
of some Australian species are very drought-resistant, surviving up to 100 years in dry conditions. On wetting, the gelatinous interior of the sporocarp swells, splitting it and releasing a worm-like mass that carries sori
Sorus
A sorus is a cluster of sporangia .In fungi and lichens, the sorus is surrounded by an external layer. In some red algae it may take the form of a depression into the thallus....
, eventually leading to germination of spore
Spore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
s and fertilization.
Uses
As food
Sporocarps of some Australian species such as Marsilea drummondiiMarsilea drummondii
Marsilea drummondii is a species of fern known by the common name nardoo. It is native to Australia, where it is widespread and common, particularly in inland regions. It is a rhizomatous perennial aquatic fern that roots in mud substrates and produces herbage that floats on the surface of quiet...
are edible and have been eaten by Aborigines and early white settlers, who knew it under the name ngardu or nardoo. Parts of Marsilea drummondii contains an enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
which destroys thiamine
Thiamine
Thiamine or thiamin or vitamin B1 , named as the "thio-vitamine" is a water-soluble vitamin of the B complex. First named aneurin for the detrimental neurological effects if not present in the diet, it was eventually assigned the generic descriptor name vitamin B1. Its phosphate derivatives are...
(vitamin B1), leading to brain damage in sheep and horses. During floods in the Gwydir River
Gwydir River
The Gwydir River is a large inland river in the northern part of the Australian state of New South Wales which is part of the Murray-Darling Basin. The river has two main tributaries—the Horton River and the Rocky River...
basin 2,200 sheep died after eating nardoo. Three-quarters of the sheep that were affected did however respond to thiamine injections.
The leaves of Marsilea crenata
Marsilea crenata
Marsilea crenata is a species of fern found in Southeast Asia. It is an aquatic plant looking like a four leaf clover. Leaves floating in deep water or erect in shallow water or on land...
is part of the East Javanese cuisine of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, especially in the city of Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
. It is called Pecel Semanggi and served with spicy peanut and sweet potato sauce.
Ornamental
A few species in the genus, such as Marsilea crenataMarsilea crenata
Marsilea crenata is a species of fern found in Southeast Asia. It is an aquatic plant looking like a four leaf clover. Leaves floating in deep water or erect in shallow water or on land...
, Marsilea exarata and Marsilea quadrifolia
Marsilea quadrifolia
-Common names:'Four Leaf Clover'; European waterclover ; Sushni in parts of India; "aaraik keerai" in Tamil and is in use for more than 3000 years as part of food.-Origins:M...
, are grown in aquaria
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
.
Selected species
|
Benjamin Lincoln Robinson Benjamin Lincoln Robinson was an American botanist.-External links:*... & Fernald Merritt Lyndon Fernald Merritt Lyndon Fernald was an American botanist. In his time he was regarded as the most respected scholar of the taxonomy and phytogeography of the vascular plant flora of temperate eastern North America. He published more than 850 scientific papers and wrote and edited the seventh and eighth... – Chihuahuan Water Clover William Jackson Hooker Sir William Jackson Hooker, FRS was an English systematic botanist and organiser. He held the post of Regius Professor of Botany at Glasgow University, and was the first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He enjoyed the friendship and support of Sir Joseph Banks for his exploring,... & Grev. Robert Kaye Greville Robert Kaye Greville was a Scottish mycologist, bryologist, and botanist. He was an accomplished artist and illustrator of natural history. In addition to science he was interested in political causes like abolitionism, capital punishment, keeping Sunday special and the temperance movement... – Guyanan Water Clover Marsilea quadrifolia -Common names:'Four Leaf Clover'; European waterclover ; Sushni in parts of India; "aaraik keerai" in Tamil and is in use for more than 3000 years as part of food.-Origins:M... L. – European Water Clover Marsilea villosa Marsilea villosa, the ihiihi or villous waterclover , is a species of fern that is endemic to the islands of Oahu, Molokai and Niihau in Hawaii. It is found exclusively in areas that experience periodic flooding and become ephemeral pools within low elevation dry forests and shrublands. Standing... Kaulf. Georg Friedrich Kaulfuss Georg Friedrich Kaulfuss was a professor at Halle. He described the pteridophytes collected by Adalbert von Chamisso, and named the fern Cibotium chamissoi after him. The genus Kaulfussia is named for Kaulfuss.-Plants Named by Kaulfuss:... – Ihiihi (Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of... ) |
Formerly placed here
- Salvinia natansSalvinia natansSalvinia natans, commonly known as floating fern, floating watermoss, floating moss, is an annual floating aquatic fern, which can appear superficially similar to moss...
(L.) All. (as M. natans L.)