Marsilea

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Marsileaceae

• Scientific Name

  Marsilea

• Description

  Genus Description - Lvs long-petiolate, the blade mostly floating or emergent, with 4 approximate lfls (2 juxtaposed pairs) regularly spreading from the petiole-tip and suggesting a 4-lvd clover; lfls dichotomously and reticulately veined, and with an intramarginal connecting vein; sporocarp longitudinally ± bilocular and with many transverse partitions, finally dehiscent by 2 valves, somewhat compressed, ± ovate or elliptic, in many spp. (including ours) attached laterally to the distal part of the peduncle, which forms a raphe that may project as an "inferior" tooth; a "superior" tooth often also present on the upper side of the sporocarp a little above the base; sori several or many, each with central megasporangia and lateral microsporangia on an elongate receptacle. 45, cosmop.

• Common Names

  water-clover