Marsilea mutica

Marsileaceae

Marsilea mutica Mett.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/104978

Smooth Nardoo

Rhizome long-creeping, much-branched, bearing nodal roots and peltate apical scales, otherwise glabrous. Fronds solitary or clustered, 5–90 cm long. Stipes glabrous. Leaflets broadly obovate to broadly cuneate, 25–45 mm long, 20–40 mm wide (smaller in terrestrial forms), often streaked with brown false veins between the true veins on the lower surface, green distally, yellow-green proximally, separated by a brown zone, glabrous (a few basal scales in terrestrial forms); outer margin rounded, entire. Sporocarps in groups of 2–4; stalks 10–20 mm long, branched 1–3 times (rarely unbranched), arising at or near the base of the stipe, glabrous or with a few basal scales; conceptacles globose, 3–6 mm long, glabrous to densely scaly; basal teeth absent.

Occurs in near costal localities of N WA, NT and E QLD and SE NSW, ACT, Vic and S Tasmania. Also in New Caledonia.

Aquatic or terrestrial herb. Grows in shallow water or mud.

Commonly grown in ponds.