Scientific Name: Azolla rubra

Common Name: pacific azolla

Family Classification (Clade): Pteridophytes

Family: Azollaceae

Form Description: Sparsely branched aquatic fern forming free floating masses, roots unbranched.

Municipality
BrightonBurnieCentral HighlandsGeorge TownHuon ValleyKing IslandKingboroughNorthern MidlandsSouthern MidlandsWest Tamar
Plant Communities
Aquatic
Habitat Notes

Occurs in still or slow-moving waters of agricultural dams, lagoons, creeks and rivers.

Soil Tolerance

aquatic

Frost Tolerance

Tender

General Notes

Normally light green in colour under shade but in full sun changes to a conspicuous purplish red which is believed to protect leaves from ultra violet. Bird attracting. Commonly grown on ponds or dams as a cover for fish and food for water birds. Also used in cold water aquaria.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Specialist Method

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Rarely fertile. Fragments detach from the mass and disperse in times of flood.

Seed Treatment Notes

Seeds are rarely used for aquatic species. They must be sown fresh on the surface of soil in pots standing in water and covered with a sheet of glass.

Cutting & Division Information

Propagates readily by division of the stems.