Azolla pinnata

Common name(s): Ferny Azolla, Water Fern, Duck Weed, Water Velvet, Mosquitofern, Feathered mosquitofern

Family: Salviniaceae
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Fern
Fern
Taken by Ken Harrington
Fern
Fern
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Fern / Fern Ally Properties
Origin(s)
Brunei Darussalam
  • Brunei: Indigenous
China
  • China: Indigenous
India
  • India: Indigenous
Japan
  • Japan: Indigenous
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
  • Korea Sth.: Indigenous
Korea, Republic of
  • Korea Nth.: Indigenous
Philippines
  • Philippine: Indigenous
Angola
  • Angola: Indigenous
Cameroon
  • Cameroon: Indigenous
Equatorial Guinea
  • Equ Guinea: Indigenous
Gabon
  • Gabon: Indigenous
Kenya
  • Kenya: Indigenous
Malawi
  • Malawi: Indigenous
Mozambique
  • Mozambique: Indigenous
South Africa
  • South Afri: Indigenous
Tanzania, United Republic of
  • Tanzania: Indigenous
Uganda
  • Uganda: Indigenous
Zambia
  • Zambia: Indigenous
Zimbabwe
  • Zimbabwe: Indigenous
Australia
  • NSW: NP, NS, NT, NC, SP, CS, CT, CC, SS, ST, SC, LH, CAN
  • TAS: NW, SW
  • NT: DG
  • QLD: CO, KN, KS, LE, PC, BN, WB, DD, MO
  • SA: SL, MU, KI, SE
  • VIC: MM, GR, RI, MI, EH, GP, EG
  • WA: IR, DA
Benin
  • Benin: Indigenous
Burundi
  • Burundi: Indigenous
Congo, the Democratic Republic of the
  • Congo: Indigenous
Côte d'Ivoire
  • Cote d'Ivo: Indigenous
Ghana
  • Ghana: Indigenous
Guinea
  • Guinea: Indigenous
Guinea-Bissau
  • Guinea-Bis: Indigenous
Liberia
  • Liberia: Indigenous
Nigeria
  • Nigeria: Indigenous
Papua New Guinea
  • PNG: Indigenous
Rwanda
  • Rwanda: Indigenous
Sierra Leone
  • Sierra Leo: Indigenous
Togo
  • Togo: Indigenous
Plant Type
Annual, Aquatic Fern, Biennial, Riparian Fern
Annual,
Aquatic Fern,
Biennial,
Riparian Fern
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical
Temperate Cool,
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Rivers / Creeks / Streams
Lakes / Dams / Swamps,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams
Habitat Zone(s)
Moist areas, Rivers / Creeks / Streams
Moist areas,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams
Mature Height
< 50mm
< 50mm
Mature Width
< 50mm
< 50mm
Plant Shape
Prostrate
Prostrate
Prostrate Prostrate
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Very Fast
Life Span
1-2yrs
1-2yrs
Frond Properties
Frond Colour(s) (upper)
Brown-green, Green Dark, Green Light, Red, Red-green, Red-purple
Brown-green,
Green Dark,
Green Light,
Red,
Red-green,
Red-purple
Frond Colour(s) (lower)
Green Dark, Green Light
Green Dark,
Green Light
Frond Texture (upper)
Velutinous
Velutinous
Velutinous Velutinous
Frond Aroma
None
None
Frond Length
20-25mm
20-25mm
Frond Width
25-30mm
25-30mm
Frond Shape(s)
Bipinnate
Bipinnate
Bipinnate Bipinnate
Frond Arrangement
Opposite
Opposite
Opposite Opposite
Root Properties
Root Type(s)
Fibrous
Fibrous
Fibrous Fibrous
Root/Rhizome Texture(s)
Hairy-Very , Silky
Hairy-Very,
Silky
Soil Properties
Soil Type(s)
Clay, Clay-loam, Loam
Clay,
Clay-loam,
Loam
Soil pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Soil Condition(s)
Water logged
Water logged
Wet
Wet
Water logged Water logged,
Wet Wet
Fertile , Poor
Fertile,
Poor
Waterlogging Class
W4 – Aquatic environments
W4 – Aquatic environments
Other Properties / Uses
Bird Attraction(s)
Insect
Insect
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Frog Habitat
Moderate
Moderate
Coastal
None
None
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
Poor
Poor
Drought Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Smog Tolerant
Good
Good
Landscape Use
Poor
Poor
Special Purpose(s)
Aquatic Nutrient Stripper
Aquatic Nutrient Stripper
Maintenance(s)
Thinning
Thinning
Weed Potential(s)
New Zealand
  • N.Z.: Declared

General Notes

A fine, small, unsual fern in that, it is aquatic, floating on the surface of rivers, streams, lakes and ponds preferring quiet and slow moving water.  Very fast growing, it can double its biomass in 2 days. It usually dies down in the hot summer months.

Quite a valuable aquatic fern when under control as it can block water ways very quickly. Used as organic matter and nitrogen to plough back into rice paddies, good protein food for chickens and absorbs heavy metals such as zinc, lead, chromium, mercury, cadmium, copper, arsenic as well as phosphorus and organic dyes, (don't feed that to the chickens).