Azolla filiculoides Lam.
large mosquito fern (Pacific mosquitofern)
Azollaceae (Azolla family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Sharon Hartwell     (Photo ID #4729)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Azolla filiculoides
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Species Information

General:
Delicate aquatic ferns floating on water surface; plants usually 2-6 cm long, pinnately branched from a central axis, dichotomously branched only at the periphery; fronds usually densely overlapping like shingles.
Leaves:
The upper lobes 0.8-1 mm long.Sporocarps Borne on floating lobes; hooked hairs without cross-walls or rarely with 1 or 2 cross-walls; megaspores net-veined with raised hexagons at the base.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Habitat and Range

Sloughs and ditches in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC, known from the lower Fraser River Valley; most probably introduced from E North America.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia