Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

2
Azollaceae
Azolla pinnata R.Br.
English name: water fern, mosquito fern.
Local name: Jaaru.
Description:
The plant is commonly known as mosquito fern, it is very tiny, free floating
hydrophyte. The plant is variable in colour that is from green to reddish, depending
upon weather conditions from cold to warmer respectively. Reproduction is by
spores as well as vegetative propagation.
Habitat:
Hydrophytic. It is a floating hydrophyte, found in small
fresh water canals and ponds.
Uses:
InAsian countries the plant is used as fertilizer in rice fields
because it has symbiotic cyano- bacteria which perform
nitrogen fixation thus increase the soil fertility.
Distribution:
Cosmopolitan in distribution.