Who Knew?

[SubRosa]

I've been dealing with Azolla caroliniana for decades, either growing it or trying not to grow it, but this is a new one on me! I have some in a large outdoor aquarium which is part of my rainwater storage set up that I grow water plants and breed fish in over the summer. I often use the water from the tank to water other plants in my collection, including a few that are kept in a birdbath which acts like a water tray. I just noticed these strange looking clumps growing in my Bog Lily pot, and at first thought they were a Liverwort. Upon closer inspection it turns out to be the Azolla. I never knew it would grow terrestrially, but a bit or research confirmed it.

 

[Whimgrinder]

Ive never seen this species before - have to do some research!

 

[SubRosa]

It's basically a fancy version of Duckweed

 

[Dragoness]

actually kind of pretty!

 

[DragonsEye]

Neato! Appearance reminds me of Selaginella.

 

[rdlsreno]

Yep they do that if keep moist enough. In the Philippines, we have used it as organic fertilizer, ducks feed and weed control in the rice paddies.

Ramon

 

[theplantman]

I will try to get some pics of ours in the greenhouse. It definitely grows terrestrially as long as I water it daily. Having a peaty substrate also helps, and we get it occasionally as a groundcover on the Sarrs.

 

[SubRosa]

Yep they do that if keep moist enough. In the Philippines, we have used it as organic fertilizer, ducks feed and weed control in the rice paddies.

Ramon

I read that during my research on it. It can fix nitrogen because of a symbiotic relationship with a cyanobacteria. The way it spreads when it grows aquatically makes it a very good light blocker. Add to that the nitrogen fixing and you have one very useful plant! Who knew? Besides you of course!

 

[Cthulhu138]

Very odd. I never even suspected it could grow terrestrially. Interesting.