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Marsilea quadrifolia
  • Water Clover

a member of the Marsilea genus in the family Marsileaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsaquatic
    Aquatic
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Marsilea quadrifolia has 0 edible uses listed
Marsilea quadrifolia has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[1]. Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase[2].

Edible uses

Notes

Young stems and leaves[3][4]. A famine food, only used in times of scarcity[5]. The spores are produced in a sporocarp (like a fairly large container) and in allied species this is ground up and mixed with flour etc and used in making bread etc. It is rich in starch[6].

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Marsilea quadrifolia.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

A juice made from the leaves is diuretic and febrifuge[5]. It is also used to treat snakebite and applied to abscesses etc[5]. The plant is anti-inflammatory, diuretic, depurative, febrifuge and refrigerant[7][8][5].

Unknown part

Antidote
Antiphlogistic
Depurative
Diuretic
Febrifuge
Skin

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Spores. The plant produces sporocarps, these need to be lightly abraded and then immersed in water. The sporocarps will then swell and burst to release the spores. The spores germinate immediately, the highly developed prothallus remains inside the large seed-like spores. The gametophyte generation is completed in 24 hours and the first roots and shoots appear in 2 - 3 days. Mature plants bearing sporocarps can develop in as little as 3 months[1]. Division.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Marsilea quadrifolia. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a permanently moist or wet soil, it can be grown by the side of ponds etc or in the shallow edges of the pond[9]. Thrives in a turfy loam or in peat[10].

Hardy to about -15°c[1].

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[11].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Marsilea quadrifolia. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Marsilea quadrifolia.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Marsilea quadrifolia
Genus
Marsilea
Family
Marsileaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[5][7][8]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[12][1]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    ?
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.2 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type

    "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    2. ? Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    3. ? 3.03.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh (1976-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.5 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana ISBN 0-00-634436-4 (1976-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
    8. ? 8.08.1 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
    9. ? Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7158-0789-7 (1982-00-00)
    10. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    11. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
    12. ? Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution (1965-00-00)

    "image:Maesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Marsilea quadrifolia"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyMarsileaceae +
    Belongs to genusMarsilea +
    Has common nameWater Clover +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves + and Seeds +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageMaesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg +
    Has mature height0.2 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntidote +, Antiphlogistic +, Depurative +, Diuretic +, Febrifuge + and Skin +
    Has primary imageMaesilea quadrifolia denjisou01.jpg +
    Has search namemarsilea quadrifolia + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameMarsilea quadrifolia +
    Has water requirementsaquatic +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +