Marsilea crenata (Fern taxa)
Marsilea crenata is an aquatic fern commonly found in shallow, freshwater bodies in the upper North of Western Australia(Lindsay, S. 2013). It has a close resemblance to the characteristics of a four leaf clover with a creeping, horizontal rhizome with fronds located at intervals along the rhizome (Kramer, KU. 1998). The fronds are erect with a long stipe that can reach a length of 30 centimeters and are usually intertwined and tangled (DNA of Singapore, 2013). Located at the tip of each frond are four triangular leaflets with rounded outer edges which give Marsilea crenata its resemblance to the four leaf clover (Kramer, KU. 1998). In shallow water ways these leaflets float at the waters surface.
M. crenata is a native species to Western Australia and is found in the upper North West of Western Australia (Zhuang, X. 2011).
Marsilea crenata is not threatened or rare in Australia. Listed as least concern (Zhuang, X. 2011).
No information was found on major threats.
The rhizome of Marsilea crenata is long and creeping with sterile fronds born at intervals between 1 and 4 centimeters (Leach, GJ. 1985). These fronds can be erect when growing in mud and tend to be floating when located in water (Kramer, KU. 1998). The fronds consist of a slender stipe that can reach a length of up to 30 centimeters depending on the depth of the water, fronds tend to be hairless but can be glabrescent (Leach, GJ. 1985). Main roots tend arise along the rhizome where fronds are growing. These main roots bear fine secondary roots that can be up to 5 millimeters long (Leach, GJ. 1985). Located at the end of each stipe are a pair of spreading, terminal leaflets that can be glabrous or hairy and can be between 5 millimeters long and wide to 25 millimeters long and wide (Leach, GJ. 1985). These four leaflets give Marsilea crenata the close resemblance to a four leaf clover. During juvenile growth these four erect leaflets can be reduced to a single erect leaflet (Kramer, KU. 1998). Sporocarps of Marsilea crenata are stalked and can be either clustered or solitary and hold a more or less D shape. Tending to become hairless the sporocarp is laterally flattened and has a size of a out 2-2.5 millimeters by 1.5-2.5 millimeters (Kramer, KU. 1998). The sporocarp has two unequal basal teeth, the lower of which is small and blunt and the upper which is spiny and well-developed (Kramer, KU. 1998).
Marsilea crenata is an aquatic fern that is commonly found in shallow water and seasonally wet habitats (Lindsay, S. 2013). During dry seasons the Marsilea species are capable of producing sporocarps as the habitat dries (Kramer, KU. 1998). The spores with in the sporocarp can retain their viability for up the 70 years allowing the species to survive in areas where periods of rainfall are infrequent or during times of severe drought (Kramer, KU. 1998).
Regnellites nagashimae, which comes from rocks from the Upper Jurassic or Lower Cretaceous period in Japan is the oldest known ancestor of the fern family Marsileaceae based on its similar lead and stem morphology (Pryer, K. 2004). It shows signs of leaves with visible veins and sporoocarps (Kato, M. 2002).
Marsilea crenata is widespread throughout Malaysia, Phillipines, Chine, Japan, Thailand, Lao PDR, Indonesia and Australia (Zuang, X. 2011).
Native to China (Guangdong, Fujian); Indonesia; Japan (Kyushu); Philippines; Malaysia; Taiwan; Province of Chine; Thailand; Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland) (Zuang, X. 2011).
http://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/13715, shows the location of Marsilea crenata in Western Australia.
The aquatic fern M. crenata is commonly found in paddy fields, grooves, streamlets and ponds, rice fields and generally other marshland areas (Lindsay, S. 2013). Commonly found in open sunny places at low to medium altitudes lower then 1000 meters (Lindsay, S. 2013).
Marsilea crenata can be consumed by humans, the young fronds cant be eaten as a vegetable. When grass in scarce in Thailand, Marsilea creanta can be used as a subsitute to feed grazzing cattle (DNA of Singapore, 2013).
Recent comments