Marsilea vestita
Marsilea vestita, commonly known as the clothed water clover, is a unique aquatic fern characterized by its distinctive four-leaflet structure. Native to specific wetland habitats, this resilient species plays a vital role in its ecosystem, offering potential medicinal properties and serving as an important subject in botanical pharmacological studies.
- Scientific name: Marsilea vestita
- Family: Marsileaceae
- Native range: Northern America
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Polypodiinae | WCVP |
| Order | Salviniales | WCVP |
| Family | Marsileaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Marsilea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Marsilea vestita, is known by various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In English, it is commonly referred to as the clothed water clover, while in its native Vietnamese context, it is known as cỏ lá vảy.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Canada | Alberta | WCVP |
| Western Canada | British Columbia | WCVP |
| Western Canada | Saskatchewan | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Colorado | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Idaho | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Montana | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Oregon | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Washington | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Wyoming | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Marsilea vestita, is a species of water fern where the medicinal properties are distributed throughout its biological structure. While the plant lacks traditional upright stems, its creeping rhizomes function as the specialized stems that anchor it to the substrate and facilitate nutrient transport. The leaf extract is frequently utilized in various traditional applications due to its concentrated bioactive compounds. Ultimately, because its therapeutic potential is so widespread, the entire plant is often harvested and processed to ensure maximum efficacy in medicinal preparations.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| entire plant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Marsilea vestita has 8 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidepressant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |