Marsilea

Marsilea is a genus of aquatic plants in the fern family, resembling small clover leaves. Found in freshwater environments worldwide, they have divided leaves that float or are submerged, with some species producing sporocarps—hard, spore-producing structures—that help them reproduce. Adapted to wet habitats, Marsilea plants thrive in ponds, lakes, and marshes, playing important roles in water ecosystems by providing habitat and stabilizing sediments. Their unique leaf structure and reproductive strategies make them interesting both ecologically and evolutionarily, bridging characteristics of ferns and aquatic plants.