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Water Clover

Marsilea spp.

Water Clover

Water Clover
Water Clover

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

What is Water Clover?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • resemble a four-leaf clover
  • form dense colonies
  • 4-12 in long petiolate (stalks)
  • two-toned, green and lighter color

Roots:

  • slender, creeping rhizomes

Where does Water Clover Grow?

Water clover can be found in the mud or sand along sunny spots at the edges of swamps, marshes, ditches, streams, ponds and lakes.

Is it Invasive?

Water clover can be an aggressive invader of ponds. If colonies cover the surface of the water, then oxygen depletion and fish kills can occur. These plants should be controlled before they cover the entire surface of the pond.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

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