Australian Water Clover
Marsilea mutica
Washington State Classification
Monitor List
Australian water clover is on the monitor list - it is not a listed noxious weed in Washington.
Quick Reference
Identification
Growth Habit
Australian water clover is a perennial aquatic fern that has leaves dived into four lobes, looking like a clover. Leaves are two tone in color and tend to float on the surface of water.
Leaves
Leaves are four-parted like a clover and are two toned, being green on the lower half and brown to purple on the top half. Leaves to around 2 inches wide.
Flowers
Plants do not flower, rather they have a small rounded structure called a sporocarp that is on a short stem, growing from the rhizome near the base of the petioles. Sporocarps contain many small spores.
Impact
Australian water clover is on the monitor list - it is not a listed noxious weed in Washington. Please contact its sponsor Wesley Glisson at wgli461@ecy.wa.gov to report locations or for more information.
Ecology & Spread
Habitat
Plants grow in ponds, lakes and other aquatic environments.
Spread Mechanisms
Reproduction
Plants spread by rhizomes and by spores.
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