Mosquito Fern

Mosquito Fern

Mosquito Fern Azolla caroliniana is a tiny delicate fern that floats on the surface of ponds or ditches like green or reddish snowflakes. Its stalks are easily broken and bits that break off can grow into new plants, being spread to other waters on the feet of birds. It also reproduces sexually forming large female and small male spores in separate spore capsules (sporocarps). A sporocarp of Azolla is shown here in section. [CH] {FG}