Marsilea deflexa A.Braun

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Marsileaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Marsilea deflexa A.Braun

  • Description

    Species Description - Main rhizomes with nodal and internodal roots, internodes 1.5–6.5 cm long, apices with dense, tan hairs, glabrate beneath, rhizomes in aquatic habitats green; land fronds 2–9.3 cm long, stipes terete and glabrate, leaflets 1.1–2 x 0.9–1.7 cm, glabrous to sparsely hairy, lateral margin concave to convex, terminal margin entire; floating leaves 4–18 cm long, stipes terete and glabrous, leaflets 1.4–3.1 x 1.6–2.9 cm, lateral margin straight to convex; abaxial intercostal striae almost always present and uniformly distributed, except for small patch just distal to the pulvinus; fertile leaves in water and on land, bearing 1–4 sporocarps on lower 1/4 of stipes; sporocarps rectangular, quadrate in lateral view, with conspicuous lateral ribs, covered with flattened matted hairs, eventually glabrate, brown to purplish black, 3.5–6 x 2–4.5 mm, 1.7–2.8 mm thick, raphe and teeth absent.

  • Discussion

    Zaluzianskia deflexa (A. Braun) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 823. 1891. Type. Brazil. Piaui´: Gardner 2760 (G; isotypes BM, G, K, P).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Yuc (Tun G. 544, UADY, cited by Palacios-Rios, 2002b, but not verified). Marsilea deflexa produces sporocarps throughout the year. It does not persist as sporophytes with viable rhizomes through the dry seasons, but new plants are produced each wet season by dehiscence of sporocarps. Hybrids are known between this species and M. polycarpa in Venezuela (Johnson, 1986). See M. polycarpa for comparison.

  • Distribution

    Aquatic on clay substrates or floating in seasonal ponds, marshes and ditches; 0–1100 m (in total range). Mexico; Guat, Hond, CR; Col, Ven, Peru, Braz, Parag.

    Mexico North America| Paraguay South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Colombia South America| Costa Rica South America| Guatemala Central America|