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Taxon  Report  
Azolla microphylla  Kaulf.
Mexican mosquito fern
Azolla microphylla is a fern that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in North America and beyond.
also called Azolla mexicana
California Rare Plant Rank: 4.2 (limited distribution).
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Observation Search
~166 records in California
yellowone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
DJJJASONAFMM

Bloom Period
Genus: Azolla
Family: Azollaceae  
Category: fern  
PLANTS group:Fern
Jepson eFlora section: fern

Wetlands: Occurs in wetlands

Habitat: freshwater-marsh

Communities: Freshwater Wetlands, wetland-riparian

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + CNPS + PLANTS
Alternate Names:
JEF + CNPS + PLANTSAzolla mexicana
Information about  Azolla microphylla from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
Jepson eFlora

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[wikipedia] Characteristics, Distribution, Habitat: Plant Characteristics Duration: Annual Habit: Fern Size Notes: Mats up to about 2 inches thick. Bloom Notes: Not a flowering plant. Reproduces by spores. Distribution USA: AR , AZ , CA , CO , IA , IL , KS , MN , MO , NE , NM , NV , OK , OR , TX , UT , WA , WI Canada: BC Native Habitat: Fresh Water Aquatic Growing Conditions Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade Soil Moisture: Wet Aquatic: yes (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 11/21/2024).