Marsilea Linnaeus. Waterclover.
A genus of about 55 species, nearly cosmopolitan.
ID notes: Marsilea superficially resembles an aquatic four-leaf clover, with four leaflets (pinnae) palmately arrayed at the petiole summit. Species determination is difficult and relies on features of the sporocarp, a hard pea-like structure than contains the sori, and is borne on short stalks from near or at the base of the petioles. The raphe is the portion of the peduncle adnate to the sporocarp. The peduncle ends in a blunt tooth, the proximal tooth. Further up on the sporocarp is a second tooth, the distal tooth.
Ref: Jacono & Johnson (2006); Johnson (1993a) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (1993b); Knepper, Johnson, & Musselman (2002); Kramer & Green (1990); Lin & Johnson in FoC (2013); Schaefer, Carine, & Rumsey (2011). Show full citations.
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