Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta (Filicophyta)
Class: Pteridopsida (Filicopsida)
Subclass: Schizaeatae
Order: Marsileales
Marsileaceae Mirbel, Hist. Nat. Veg. 5:126, 1802.
The family Marsileaceae is a clearly delineated one, containing three clearly delineated genera. The three genera may easily be distinguished by leaf patterns: Marsilea has four pinnae, Regnellidium has two, and Pilularia has filamentous leaves without blades. All have circinate vernation and widely-creeping, cord-like rootstocks. Although these Marsileoid ferns appear quite different from Salvinia and Azolla, the three groups share heterospory and an aquatic habitat with natant foliage. Recent research has indicated that the three groups probably belong in the same order, with the heterospory commonly derived as an adaptation to the aquatic environment.
Chromosome counts in the family Marsileaceae appear to be based on n=10, which is probably a reduction from n=11.
Genera of Marsileaceae:
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This page was last revised on 11-10-1997.