What is Marsilea?

Marsilea is a type of water fern commonly known as the water clover. It was also referred to as Pepperwort or Nardoo. This fern is from the Marsileaceae family and has 70 around the world. It is named for Count Luigi Ferdinando Marsigli (1656-1730), an Italian botany. Their appearance is similar, but Marsilea always has four leaflets that are in the shape of a wedge and can be smooth or covered with fine hair. These green leaflets grow 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.5 cm) wide. The plant grows vigorously and can become invasive. The leaves grow along the rhizome, with long, slender petioles grow in an upright position. Oval, brown spore cases, pepper size, form on the base of these stems. At the top of each petiole, a four -piece leaflet develops. After a break of the stem, the surface of the immovable water hovens.

Water ferns are originally from shallow areas of fresh water and are often found in lakes, rivers, ponds and swamps, where sunlight or light shadow prevails. For prosperity of needsThey hold warm temperatures. Marsile can be found in many countries around the world, but in Australia and Africa it is the most important. In some areas, such as Asia, where it grows in rice fields, ferns' water is considered to be weeds and represents a serious problem.

Marsilea is required as an ornamental plant for aquariums and in gardens where aquatic plants are focused. It can be planted directly into the mud at the bottom of the pond or started inside the pot and then transferred to underwater soil. This type of ferns is best adapted to watering the media of the same parts of clay, sand and peat. In his natural habitat, the water will withstand long dry time using mesucho as a resting phase. In cultivation, pots should be placed in shallow containers of water to maintain the moisture level.

These types of ferns are known for their ability to reproduce a method known as generation alternation. It iso continuous process of alternation between sexual and asexual reproduction. In the sexual reproductive phase, the cells are divided, creating eggs and sperm, each with its own genetic code. Eggs and sperm combine to create a new plant. In its next reproductive cycle, Marsilea creates individual cells that develop spores that grow on plants with the same genetic plan.