Family: Salviniaceae
Author: Willd.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 5: 541 (1810)
Year: 1810
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Azolla
Vegetable: False
Observations: SE. Canada to C. & E. U.S.A., Caribbean to N. & E. Brazil
Description
Mosquito Fern, scientifically known as Azolla caroliniana, is an intriguing aquatic plant notable for its rapid growth and extensive distribution across various regions. Initially described by the author Willd., this species finds its detailed mention in “Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 5: 541 (1810).”
Belonging to the Salviniaceae family, Azolla caroliniana thrives in a wide range of geographical locations, from the southeastern parts of Canada, stretching through the central and eastern United States, and extending its reach down to the Caribbean, as well as into northern and eastern Brazil. This broad distribution highlights its adaptability to diverse climates and water conditions, making it a common sight in many freshwater bodies across these regions.
Mosquito Fern is admired for its unique ability to form dense mats on the surface of ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. These mats not only provide critical habitat and food for various aquatic organisms but also play a crucial role in preventing mosquito breeding, hence the name “Mosquito Fern.” Its ability to fix nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria makes it an invaluable resource for improving soil fertility when used as a green manure in agricultural practices.
The vibrant green foliage of Azolla caroliniana, which can sometimes take on a reddish hue under certain conditions, adds to the aesthetic value of water gardens and natural water bodies. Despite its small size, the Mosquito Fern is a significant plant both ecologically and economically, offering benefits that extend beyond its immediate environment.
Common Names
Eng: carolina mosquitofern, fairy-moss, mosquito fern, mosquito-plant, eastern mosquito fern, carolina azolla, carolina mosquito fern
Deu: großer algenfarn
Fra: azolle de caroline, azolla de caroline
En: Mosquito fern, Mosquito-plant, Fairy-moss, Carolina mosquitofern, Eastern mosquito fern, Carolina azolla, Carolina mosquito fern, Pacific Azolla, Pacific Mosquitofern, Water Fern
Be: Азола каралінская
Ca: Azol·la
Zh: 美洲滿江紅
Nl: Kleine kroosvaren, Grote Kroosvaren
Fr: Azolle de Caroline, Azolla de Caroline, Azolla fausse filicule, Azolla fausse fougère
De: Großer Algenfarn
It: Azolla americana, Azolla maggiore
Fa: آزولا کارولینا
Es: Helecho de agua
Zh-tw: 美洲滿江紅
Synonyms
- Carpanthus axillaris (Raf.)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Brazil North (native)
- Brazil Northeast (native)
- Brazil Southeast (native)
- Colombia (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Cuba (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Dominican Republic (native)
- Ecuador (native)
- Florida (native)
- French Guiana (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Guyana (native)
- Haiti (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Jamaica (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Maine (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New York (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Peru (native)
- Puerto Rico (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- South Dakota (native)
- Suriname (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Trinidad-Tobago (native)
- Venezuela (native)
- Virginia (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Belgium (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Greece (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Malaya (introduced)
- Netherlands (introduced)
- Portugal (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- Spain (introduced)
- Thailand (introduced)
- Vietnam (introduced)
Additional Images
Leaf
Taken Feb 19, 2022 by federico Kazt (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 19, 2019 by Brett Bissell someguy (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 12, 2020 by Marcos Marcos (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 15, 2021 by Dr Sandeep Kumar Yadav (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 25, 2020 by sara dias (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Feb 9, 2020 by RIYAZ PASHA (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.
© 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/2650105)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17056910-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Azolla caroliniana Willd.)
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
