hairy clover-fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hairy clover-fern
• hairy pepperwort
• hairy water-clover
• hairy water-fern
• hooked pepperwort
• western water-clover
• hooked-pepperwort
• Hairy Clover Fern
• water clover

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Marsilea brevipes
• Marsilea fournieri
• Marsilea picta
• Marsilea tenuifolia
• Zaluzianskia vestita
• Marsilea vestita var. tenuifolia
• Marsilea longipes
• Marsilea mucronata
• Marsilea vestita subsp. tenuifolia
• Zaluzianskia tenuifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Salviniales. Finally, it is a member of the family Marsileaceae, specifically falling under the genus Marsilea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific range across the western portions of North America. In Western Canada, its distribution includes the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. Moving into the Northwestern United States, the species can also be found in the state of Idaho. Additionally, its presence extends southward into the mountainous region of Colorado. Together, these locations define the documented geographical footprint of Marsilea vestita.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Marsilea vestita is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a water-fern, its development involves a complex alternation of generations, transitioning between a dominant sporophyte stage and a microscopic gametophyte stage. The plant spreads through the expansion of its creeping rhizomes, which anchor it within aquatic or semi-aquatic substrates. During favorable environmental conditions, the sporophyte produces specialized sporocarps—hard, protective structures that house the spores. These structures are highly resilient, enabling the plant to endure periods of desiccation or unfavorable climates by remaining dormant until moisture levels become optimal for germination. Once triggered by suitable hydration, the spores germinate to produce gametophytes, which eventually facilitate sexual reproduction to sustain the continuous, long-term presence of the species in its habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Marsilea vestita is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb, which lacks any lignified structures. It functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies, and is categorized as a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte. In terms of its habitat and habit, the plant is aquatic or semiaquatic in nature, often found in moist environments. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as liana or vine growth, maintaining a stable, low-profile structure.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Marsilea vestita has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Fitoterapia

Stem

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Marsilea vestita has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Terpenoids, Anthraquinones, Coumarins.

Flavonoids

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Natural product research

Tannins

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Natural product research

Terpenoids

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Natural product research

Anthraquinones

1. Natural product research

Coumarins

1. Natural product research

Fatty acids

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

SAPONIN

1. Natural product research

Activities

Marsilea vestita has 8 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antidepressant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antidiabetic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antimicrobial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antioxidant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antipyretic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Hepatoprotective

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Neuroprotective

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Preparations

Marsilea vestita has 3 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Marsilea minuta leaf extract [Fr. I], entire plant, stems.

Marsilea minuta leaf extract [fr. i]

1. Fitoterapia

Entire plant

1. Natural product research

Stems

1. Natural product research