Volume 3 > Part 4 > Year 1989 > Page 600–602 > Marsileaceae > Marsilea

Marsilea crenata C.Preslwfo-0001107353

Rel. Haenk. 1: 84. t. 12. f. 13. 1825; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya 2: 619. 1955; Dansk Bot. Ark. 20: 35. 1961; Tagawa & K.Iwats., S.E. Asian Stud. 5: 112. 1967.

Accepted Name : Marsilea minuta L.
Mant. Pl.: 308. 1771.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Rhizome slender, long-creeping, irregularly branching, bearing pale brown hairs. Stipes rather close, green, stramineous or pale brown, darker towards base, 2–3 cm long in exposed place, or 6–18 cm long in immersed plants, hairy or glabrescent. Leaflets fan-shaped, round and subentire to undulate at apex, broadly cuneate at base, 0.5–2 cm both in length and in breadth, glabrous, or hairy at margin when young. Sporocarps one to several on short stalks placed at base of stipes, oblong, 2–5 mm, covered with caducous hairs.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Mai (Fang, Chiang Dao, Ban Pong Yaeng, Ban Mae Kon, Ban Yang, Ban Kao, Chom Thong), Phitsanulok; EASTERN: Chaiyaphum (Thung Kramang); NORTH-EASTERN: Khon Kaen (Chum Phae), Phetchabun (Wichian Buri); CENTRAL: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok); SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi (Sai Yok); PENINSULAR: Krabi (Khao Phanom).

Distribution : W Malesia (type form the Philippines), north to the Ryukyus.

Ecology : In paddy fields, in grooves, in streamlets, in ponds or in marshy places, usually in open sunny places, rather common throughout the country, at low or medium altitudes, lower than 1,000 m.

Vernacular : Phak linpi (ผักลิ้นปี่)(Peninsular); phak waen (ผักแว่น)(Northern, Central); nu-to (หนูเต๊าะ (Karen-Northern).

Notes: This species has not yet been well defined as in the case of the other species of this genus. According to the number and position of the sporocarps, the species are distinguished, though we can not surely discriminate the species only by this feature. Holttum (1955) recorded Marsilea polycarpa which is distinguishable by having more numbers of sporocarps attached higher than the base of stipes. It should be further observed in the fields, for the variation of such a feature found in sporocarps is comparatively high, especially according to the condition of water level.

E-version notes : For more details see Ferns of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.