Marsilea minuta is quite close to Marsilea quadrifolia, and in fact specimens of Marsilea from China seem intermediate between the two species in sporocarp size and peduncle attachment. Study of a wide range of Old World material of Marsilea would be required, however, to resolve the question of whether Marsilea quadrifolia and Marsilea minuta represent distinct species[].

Common Name: Water Clover

General Information

Marsilea minuta is a small, creeping fern with erect 4-foliolate leaves, arising solitary from the nodes on a long creeping rhizome, rooting at the nodes
Water clover is planted as an ornamental pot plant and is used more commonly as a garden plant for pond decoration[].
Marsilea minuta has a wide native range. It is the most widely distributed and common fern in India with few or no threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Widely spread throughout Africa, including Madagascar and the Comoros; also found widely through tropical Asia.

Habitat

Shallow pools; edges of rivers; rocks underneath waterfalls; water holes; seasonally dried up river beds; seasonally flooded grassland depressions; rice fields. Often forming large and dense colonies[]..

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Fern
Height	0.00 m

Cultivation Details

The plant can become a nuisance in wet rice fields, because it forms large and dense colonies[].

Edible Uses

The bright green leaves are tender and are eaten as a potherb[].

Medicinal

The extract of whole plants is used as aphrodisiac and for increased fertility[]. The leaves are pounded, cooked with rice and then eaten as a treatment for indigestion[].
The leaf juice is used to stop nose bleeding[]. The leaves are rolled in a leaf of Shorea robusta, the whole is then boiled and then applied to swollen gums in order to reduce the swelling[].

When fed to gerbils, a leaf extract reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels in blood and liver substantially. Moreover, the treatment prevented the accumulation of these compounds in the liver and aorta and dissolved atheromatous plaques of thoracic and abdominal aortas[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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