CPIE Project

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      Azolla and Pistia at Kawai Nui. Photo by Eric GuintherAQUATIC FERNS   Filicopsida 


      Figure 1. Deep red-tinged Azolla fern growing mixed with water lettuce, floating on the water surface of a slow flowing canal

      A listing of Hawaiian aquatic and riparian ferns, arranged by taxa, is provided elsewhere in CPIE.

Photo by Brian Daniel taken Jan 27, 2003
Figure 2 (left). Aerial view of lower Lake Wilson (Wahiawa Reservoir) showing surface covered by Salvinia molesta. Photo by Brian Daniel.

 
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83a (72) Azolla from Kawai Nui Marsh, Kailua Fronds (leaves of ferns) pinnately branched bearing two rows of crowded leaves, each only about 3 mm across and two-lobed. { Growing in clusters in quiet waters (see Figure 1). Leaves usually tinged with reddish-purple. Water fern

~ Family AZOLLACEAE

Azolla filiculoides Lam.
83b S. molesta in Inoa`ole Stream, Waimanalo Floating leaves in pairs, each leaf 1 to 2 cm long, distinctly folded or with a midrib. Leaf covered on both surfaces with stiff hairs, but hairs on upper surface branching into 2 to 4 strands that rejoin at the tips (see photo inset). A third leaf accompanies each floating pair, growing downward being highly dissected, filiform (root-like) in shape. { Grown in decorative ponds, recently naturalized. Giant salvinia

~ Family SALVINIACEAE

Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell
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M. villosa at Lualualei, Oahu
Figure 3. Marsilea villosa, water fern, or `ihi`ihi is a very rare fern known from only a few sites on O`ahu. This plant grows in vernal (emphemeral) ponds in relatively dry, leeward areas. Endemic and listed as an endangered species.

© 2002 AECOS, Inc. [FILE: plant2.html]

Aquatic Plants: Ferns




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