Family: Salviniaceae
Author: Lam.
Bibliography: Encycl. 1: 343 (1783)
Year: 1783
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Azolla
Vegetable: False
Observations: New World
Description
The Pacific azolla, scientifically known as Azolla filiculoides, is a fascinating aquatic fern that belongs to the family Salviniaceae. This distinctive species was first described in 1783 in the authoritative botanical reference “Encycl.”
Azolla filiculoides is a small, free-floating plant that forms dense, green mats on the surface of still or slow-moving freshwater bodies. Its fronds are finely divided and delicate, resembling tiny floating ferns. Under optimal conditions, the fronds can exhibit a reddish hue, particularly in bright sunlight, which adds to their visual appeal.
This species is native to the New World, encompassing regions in both North and South America. It thrives in a variety of aquatic habitats, from ponds and lakes to ditches and slow-flowing rivers. The remarkable ability of Azolla filiculoides to fix atmospheric nitrogen through its symbiotic relationship with the cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae makes it an excellent natural fertilizer. This symbiotic relationship enhances the nutrient levels in the water, benefiting other aquatic organisms.
Pacific azolla has garnered attention for its potential use in sustainable agriculture and environmental management. Its rapid growth rate and high nitrogen-fixing capacity make it a valuable resource for improving soil fertility in rice paddies, a practice that has been historically significant in Asian agriculture. Moreover, Azolla filiculoides acts as an effective bioindicator, helping to monitor water quality in wetlands and aquatic systems.
In addition to its ecological benefits, Azolla filiculoides also plays a role in the local biodiversity. The mats formed by this plant provide habitat and shelter for myriad small aquatic organisms, including insects, crustaceans, and fish larvae, thus contributing to the overall health and balance of aquatic ecosystems.
Despite its many advantages, it’s essential to manage the spread of Azolla filiculoides carefully. Under certain conditions, it can proliferate excessively, leading to dense mats that cover water surfaces completely. This overgrowth can impede water flow, disrupt native species, and affect water quality negatively.
In summary, Azolla filiculoides, or Pacific azolla, is not only a remarkable plant in terms of its biological and ecological functions but also serves as an important species for sustainable practices and environmental monitoring. Properly managed, it can offer significant benefits while maintaining the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems.
Common Names
Deu: algenfarn, grosser algenfarn, großer algenfarn
Dan: andemadsbregne, stor andemadsbregne
Fra: azolla, azolla fausse-fougère, azolle fausse-filicule, azolla fausse-filicule
Heb: azolla serchanit
Nld: grote kroosvaren
Eng: pacific azolla, pacific mosquitofern, water fern, azolla, fern azolla, large mosquito fern, red azolla, red-water fern, pacific mosquito fern, duckweed fern, redwater fern
Mri: retoreto
Por: azola
Ces: azola americká, azola papra
Spa: azolla, luchecillo
Swe: mossbräken
Hun: nagylevelű moszatpáfrány
Afr: rooiwatervaring
Lit: šakotoji azolė
Cym: rhedyn y dŵr, rhedynen y dŵr
En: Pacific azolla, Azolla, Large mosquito fern, Water fern, Red azolla, Red-water fern, Pacific mosquitofern, Fern azolla, Pacific mosquito fern, Duckweed fern, Redwater fern
Af: Rooiwatervaring
Ca: Azol·la
Cs: Azola americká, Azola papra
Da: Andemadsbregne, Stor andemadsbregne
Nl: Grote kroosvaren
Fr: Azolla, Azolla fausse-fougère, Azolle fausse-filicule, Azolla fausse-filicule, Azolla fausse filicule, Azolla fausse fougère
De: Algenfarn, Grosser Algenfarn, Großer Algenfarn
He: Azolla serchanit, אזולה שרכית
Hu: Nagylevelű moszatpáfrány
It: Azolla maggiore
Lt: Šakotoji azolė
Mi: Retoreto
Pt: Azola
Es: Azolla, Luchecillo, Helecho de agua
Sv: Mossbräken
Cy: Rhedyn y Dŵr, Rhedynen y Dŵr
Synonyms
Distribution
- Alaska (native)
- Argentina Northeast (native)
- Argentina Northwest (native)
- Argentina South (native)
- Arizona (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Bolivia (native)
- Brazil North (native)
- Brazil Northeast (native)
- Brazil South (native)
- Brazil Southeast (native)
- Brazil West-Central (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- California (native)
- Chile Central (native)
- Chile North (native)
- Chile South (native)
- Colombia (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Costa Rica (native)
- Dominican Republic (native)
- Ecuador (native)
- El Salvador (native)
- Galápagos (native)
- Guatemala (native)
- Guyana (native)
- Honduras (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Mexico Central (native)
- Mexico Gulf (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Mexico Southeast (native)
- Mexico Southwest (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- Nevada (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- Nicaragua (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Panamá (native)
- Paraguay (native)
- Peru (native)
- Texas (native)
- Tristan da Cunha (native)
- Uruguay (native)
- Utah (native)
- Venezuela (native)
- Venezuelan Antilles (native)
- Washington (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Albania (introduced)
- Assam (introduced)
- Austria (introduced)
- Baltic States (introduced)
- Bangladesh (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Cape Provinces (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- Denmark (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Free State (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Greece (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- India (introduced)
- Ireland (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Jawa (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
- Lesotho (introduced)
- Malaya (introduced)
- Morocco (introduced)
- Mozambique (introduced)
- Namibia (introduced)
- Nansei-shoto (introduced)
- Nepal (introduced)
- Netherlands (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- Northern Provinces (introduced)
- Palestine (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Portugal (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- Sardegna (introduced)
- Sicilia (introduced)
- Spain (introduced)
- Swaziland (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Tadzhikistan (introduced)
- Taiwan (introduced)
- Turkey (introduced)
- Turkey-in-Europe (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- West Himalaya (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
- Zimbabwe (introduced)
Additional Images
Leaf
Taken Oct 13, 2020 by del rio sol (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 25, 2021 by Martina Werner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 11, 2022 by kING Mits (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 28, 2021 by Alcide Luna (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 12, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Oct 10, 2020 by flavioes (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 12, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 14, 2013 by EOL − Ken-ichi Ueda (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jun 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Sep 3, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 5, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Claude ECHARDOUR (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 27, 2022 by Benito Laura (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 13, 2022 by Jean-René Girardeau (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 12, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Sep 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Sep 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jul 29, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 12, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jul 11, 2022 by Birgitta Tittel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 27, 2022 by Henri Hazzan (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 2, 2022 by unai lazcano (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2650107)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17056950-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Azolla filiculoides Lam.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 9
Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]
Soil nutriments: 7