Isoetes muelleri

Isoetaceae

Isoetes muelleri A.Braun

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/64530

Aquatic or amphibious herb; corm 2- or 3-lobed, 5–25 mm wide. Leaves 5–20, spirally arranged, erect or recurved, 3–38 cm long, 1–1.5 mm diam., firm or flexible, bright green; base to 15 mm wide, white; peripheral fibre strands and internal hairs absent; stomata numerous, sometimes distally restricted; trans-lacunar diaphragms obvious; ligule triangular, 1–2 mm long; labium minute or absent. Heterosporous, sporangia round, elliptic to obovate, 2–9 mm long, 2–5 mm wide, semi-translucent, pale whitish or brown, embedded in the adaxial face of the leafe base of the ordinary vegetative leaves; velum covering 15–100% of sporangium.

Widespread in all states and territories of Australia.

In a range of habitats from subalpine tarns to ephemeral swamps and rockpools and the banks of lakes.

Named after botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller who provided the type specimen.