Pteridophyta: Salviniales

Marsileaceae - Water-clovers and pillworts

Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.

Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca

Description of the family

Small aquatic or semi-aquatic ferns, rooting in mud, with widely creeping, dichotomously branched rhizomes of indefinite growth. Fronds numerous, approximate to widely spaced, 1-pinnate with 2 pinna pairs in a clover-shaped cluster at the apex of a long, slender, cylindrical petiole or lamina lacking; veins dichotomously branched, anastomosing. Sporangia in closed sporocarps; sporocarps inserted on short stalks (pedicles)on the stipe (usually at the base), heterosporous.

Worldwide: 3 genera and c. 75 species worldwide, in warm-temperate and (sub)tropical regions.

Malawi: 1 genus and 2 taxa.

Links to genera: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Marsilea L.	Description, Image

Other sources of information about Marsileaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Marsileaceae
Flora of Burundi: Marsileaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Marsileaceae
Flora of the DRC: Marsileaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Marsileaceae
Flora of Rwanda: Marsileaceae
Flora of Zambia: Marsileaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Marsileaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Marsileaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Marsileaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Marsileaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Marsileaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Marsileaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Marsileaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Marsileaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Marsileaceae
Wikipedia: Marsileaceae
Plants of the World Online: Marsileaceae
Tropicos: Marsileaceae