Azolla caroliniana — Carolina mosquito fern
![Plant form: Azolla caroliniana. ~ By David G. Smith. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~ dgsmith3[at]gmail.com ~ Delaware Wildflowers - delawarewildflowers.org/](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Azollaceae/azolla-caroliniana-ha-dsmith.jpg)
Copyright: various copyright holders. To reuse an image, please click it to see who you will need to contact.
Facts
The aquatic fern, Carolina mosquito fern, is native to North American, but it is an uncommon visitor to New England, having been collected in Connecticut and Massachusetts. This tiny, mat-forming plant has been extensively used in wastewater treatment and water pollution mitigation for its ability to absorb heavy metals and radioactivity.
Habitat
Lacustrine (in lakes or ponds), riverine (in rivers or streams), swamps
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
-
- aquatic
- wetlands
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
- there are no special features on the leaves
-
Place
- Habitat
-
- aquatic
- wetlands
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Specific habitat
-
- in lakes or ponds
- in rivers or streams
- swamps
Wetland status
Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- absent
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
1. Azolla caroliniana Willd. E
Carolina mosquito fern. CT, MA; also reported from NH by Magee and Ahles (1999), but voucher specimens are unknown. Still or slow-moving water of lakes, pools, swamps, and streams. Reports of this species from RI were based on a collection taken from a pond on the University of Rhode Island campus— Champlin 51 (Champlin Herb.).