Azolla caroliniana

Taxobox
name = Carolina Azolla


image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Azolla caroliniana" (reddish) and "Lemna" (green) in a small pool
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pteridophyta
classis = Pteridopsida
ordo = Salviniales
familia = Azollaceae
genus = "Azolla"
species = "A. caroliniana"
binomial = "Azolla caroliniana"
binomial_authority = Willd.

"Azolla caroliniana" (Carolina Azolla, Carolina Mosquito Fern, Water velvet) is a species of "Azolla" native to the Americas, in eastern North America from southern Ontario southward, and from the east coast west to Wisconsin and Texas, and in the Caribbean, and in Central and South America from southeastern Mexico (Chiapas) south to northern Argentina and Uruguay.Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?102986 "Azolla caroliniana"] ]

It is a freshwater aquatic fern, with scale-like fronds 5–10 mm long, green to reddish, most often reddish in strong light and in winter. They are covered in fine hairs that give it the appearance of velvet.Flora of North America: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200005217 "Azolla caroliniana"] ] Aquatic Plant Information System: [http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/aqua/apis/plants/html/azolla_s.html "Azolla"] ] It is able to fix nitrogen from the air by means of symbiotic cyanobacteria. It can survive winter water temperatures of 5 °C, with optimum summer growth between 25-30 ºC.NESAC: [http://megapib.nic.in/azolla.htm Package of Practice for Azolla] ]

Cultivation and uses

"Azolla caroliniana" is of commercial importance in cultivation in southern and eastern Asia as a bio-fertilizer, valued for its nitrogen-fixing ability, which benefits crops such as rice when the fern is grown under it and reduces the need for artificial fertilizer addition. The thick mat of fronds (up to 4 cm thick) also suppresses weed growth. Harvested fronds are also used as a food for fish and poultry. It is also often used as a floating plant in both coldwater and tropical aquaria, as well as in outdoor ponds; it is propagated by division.Hiscock, P. (2003). "Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants". Interpret Publishing, United States and Canada ISBN 0-7641-5521-0.]

References