Water Clover

Water Clover (Marsilea spp.)

• Botanical Definition:
  Water Clover is a genus of aquatic ferns that resemble four-leaf clovers due to their distinctive, clover-like leaves, which are actually fronds divided into four leaflets. These plants typically grow in or near shallow water bodies like ponds, marshes, and rice fields.

• Notable Species:

  • Marsilea quadrifolia – Native to Europe and Asia; also naturalized in parts of North America.

  • Marsilea minuta – Common in tropical Asia and often used in traditional medicine.

• Habitat:
  Found in wetlands, rice paddies, and slow-moving freshwater environments.

• Reproduction:
  Unlike flowering plants, Water Clover reproduces via spores produced in specialized structures called sporocarps.