Red Azzola

Description:

A New Zealand native. Small water fern that propagates easily into a dense mat of floating fern. Each plant is only abount 2.5cm wide (1") and is a dark green colour but turns a dark brick red when exposed to light. It branches irregularly and leaves are triangular and smooth surfaced and looking a little scale like. Roots are a simple peg and do not branch.

Habitat:

Lowland water bodies on ponds and lake margins and on the edge of slow moving streams. This species prefers full sun although will grow in partial shade. Also its grows very aggressively in eutrophic water but will also tolerate acidic conditions. It reproduces via spores but is generally dispersed by fragmentation often on the legs and feathers of waterfowl and as such can end up in the strangest places including farm water troughs!

Notes:

Although considered a little undesirable in most ponds for its invasive and light blocking habits, it is quite an interesting plant nonetheless. Due to a cyanobacteria found within the plant it can "fix" atmospheric nitrogen and is considered to make a wonderful compost for gardeners. It is also a very important food source for the tadpole phase of the two introduced Australian Bell frogs. Images show the plant itself and a pond in the process of becoming colonized. Ref:New Zealand Plant Conservation Network.