Marsilea
Marsilea, commonly known as water clover, is a unique aquatic fern characterized by its four-leaflet appearance. Thriving in wetlands and shallow waters, this resilient plant plays a vital role in aquatic ecosystems. Beyond its ecological importance, various species hold significant potential in traditional medicine for their diverse therapeutic properties.
- Scientific name: Marsilea
- Family: Marsileaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Polypodiinae, it follows the order Salviniales. Finally, it is categorized under the family Marsileaceae and 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, known scientifically as Marsilea, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Indonesian (id) and Javanese (jv), it is commonly called Semanggi, while in Russian (ru), it is known as Марсилия. In Norwegian (nb), it is referred to as kløverbregneslekta, and in Finnish (fi), it is categorized under the term apilasaniaiset.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| jv | Semanggi | Wikidata |
| ru | Марсилия | Wikidata |
| id | Semanggi | Wikidata |
| nb | kløverbregneslekta | Wikidata |
| fi | apilasaniaiset | Wikidata |
| uk | Марсилія | Wikidata |
| sv | Klöverbräknar | Wikidata |
| bg | Марсилея | Wikidata |
| be | Марсілея | Wikidata |
| ta | ஆரக்கீரை | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution can be identified within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, it is found throughout the territories of Austria and Germany. The species also extends into the areas of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, its range reaches further into the Middle European landscape of Hungary.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
Chemicals
Marsilea has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Arsenic, As.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| As | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |