Marsilea mollis B.L.Rob. & Fernald

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Marsileaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Marsilea mollis B.L.Rob. & Fernald

  • Description

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    Species Description - Main rhizomes brown to black with nodal roots, occasionally with an internodal root, internodes 0.8–2.3 cm long, apices densely pilose, glabrate beneath, rhizomes in water green; land fronds 1.1–14 cm long, stipes terete and pilose, leaflets .25–1.7 x 0.13–1.6 mm, densely pilose beneath, sparsely pilose or glabrous above, lateral margin convex to straight; floating leaves 12.5–100 cm long, leaflets 0.5–2.6 x 0.5–2.9 cm; abaxial intercostal striae irregularly distributed; fertile leaves on land, bearing one sporocarp on erect to slightly decumbent peduncle; sporocarps ovate in lateral view, often with conspicuous lateral ribs, gray-brown to brownish black, covered with acicular 4–5-celled verrucose hairs, soon glabrate, 2.4–4 x 2–3 mm, 1.3–1.7 mm thick; raphe 0.6–1.4 mm long, inferior tooth blunt or absent, superior tooth blunt or absent.

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. Chihuahua: St. Diego, Hartman 604 (GH; isotypes F, GH, K!, MEXU!, MSC, NY!, UC!, US!).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Mor (Jackson 19, MICH, cited by Pe´rez-Garci´a et al., 1999, but not verified). Nay (Alava & Cook 1529, UC, sterile, identification not certain). Pue (Arse`ne 520, 2283, US, cited by Pe´rez-Garci´a et al., 1999, but not verified). Qro (Rzedowski 48832, IEB, not seen, cited by Arregui´n et al., 2001, but this is M. ancylopoda, according to Pe´rez-Garci´a et al., 1999). The small sporocarps with spreading hairs, lacking a superior tooth and attached to wiry peduncles characterize this species. Marsilea mollis bears sporocarps March through December (and perhaps all year) in Mexico. See M. ancylopoda for comparison with that species. The following sterile collections are probably this species, but in the absence of sporocarps, we cannot be certain: Mor (Lyons 63, US; Bonilla 316, HUMO, MEXU, cited by Riba et al., 1996, but not verified). Pue (Arse`ne 520, 2283, US). Qro (Rzedowski 42619, 43101, IEB).

  • Distribution

    Clay substrates on sandy soils, in temporary ponds and lakes; 1200–2500 m. USA (Ariz, Tex); Mexico; Peru, Chile, Arg. Probably also Colombia and Ecuador, where represented only by sterile collections (Johnson, 1986: 58).

    Ecuador South America| Argentina South America| Chile South America| Peru South America| México Mexico North America| Arizona United States of America North America| Texas United States of America North America|