204.400 Azolla Lam.

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

Henderson, L. (2001) Alien weeds and invasive plants Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12. Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa.

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 genus

Free-floating aquatic plants; rhizomes slender, roots simple. Leaves alternate in 2 rows, equally lobed with submerged lobe containing cavities with cyanobacteria and a chlorophyllous floating lobe, veins free. Sori in sporocarps borne in axils of submerged lobes.

Derivation of name: azo: dry, ollyo: to kill; plants are killed by drought

Comment: Some authors place the genus Azolla within the family of the Azollaceae. Recent literature (Roux 2009, Crouch 2011) however include the genus Azolla within the Salviniaceae.

Worldwide: c.6 species in tropical and warm areas, introduced in many ares

Zimbabwe: 3 taxa.

Azolla filiculoides

Links to taxa:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesFZ divisionsContent
filiculoides Lam.N,C,EDescription, Image
nilotica Decne. ex Mett.N,WDescription, Image
pinnata R. Br. subsp. africana (Desv.) R.M.K. Saunders & K. FowlerN,WDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Azolla:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Azolla
Flora of Burundi: Azolla
Flora of Caprivi: Azolla
Flora of the DRC: Azolla
Flora of Malawi: Azolla
Flora of Mozambique: Azolla
Flora of Rwanda: Azolla
Flora of Zambia: Azolla

External websites:

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

Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Genus page: Azolla.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=89, retrieved 5 November 2024

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