2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 15:51
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Latin name: Azolla Family: Azolla Categories: Plants for ponds |
Azolla (lat. Azolla) - plant for water bodies and coastal areas; a genus of floating ferns of the Azolla family. Currently, there are seven known species of azolla. Outwardly, Azolla is similar to lace moss or duckweed. Under natural conditions, the plant grows in tropical and temperate zones of the globe.
Characteristics of culture
Azolla is an annual plant; a tiny fern that floats on the surface of the water of artificial and natural reservoirs, and forms a dense decorative carpet. The stem is horizontal, scaly, branched, floating in the water column, reaches 25-30 cm in length.
Adventitious roots, collected in bunches. The leaves are small, on the outside, tiled, segmented, the upper segment is located on the surface of the water, the lower segment is submerged in water.
The plants are characterized by symbiosis with blue-green nitrogen-fixing algae - anabens. In the natural environment, with the onset of stable cold weather, the leaves of azolla rot, the spores sink to the bottom and the next spring new plants form from them.
Common types
* Azolla Carolina, or water fern (lat. Azolla caroliniana) - the species is represented by plants with a horizontal branched stem 0.7-2.5 cm long. The leaves are scaly, tiled, green with a colorless edge, 1-1.5 cm wide, located opposite.
* Azolla Nile (Latin Azolla nilotica) - the species is represented by plants with a horizontal stem of 1.5-6 cm, covered with small scales. The roots are collected in bunches. Leaves are tiled, scaly, opposite, green or blue-green in color with a wide colorless edge.
* Azolla fern, or fern (lat. Azolla filiculoides) - the species is represented by large plants with a branched stem 1-10 cm long. Leaves are bright green with a pink tint, elongated with a pointed end. In autumn, the leaves turn reddish brown.
* Azolla pinnate (lat. Azolla pinnata) - the species is represented by plants with a branched stem 1, 5-2, 5 cm long. Leaves are opposite, scaly, red-brown in color.
Growing conditions
Azolla is a thermophilic plant; it prefers reservoirs with stagnant or slow-flowing waters, both shaded and well-lit. The optimum temperature of the content is 16-28C. In Central Russia, it is grown only in aquariums.
Reproduction and planting
Most often, the culture is propagated by divisions. The procedure is carried out in the summer, side shoots are broken off from the main stem and lowered into the water. Under favorable conditions, the azolla also multiplies with spores, which easily overwinter at the bottom of a non-freezing reservoir, and in spring they form new shoots and leaves.
Care
Azolla does not need special care. Since the plant is very fast and abundant, it is necessary to regularly prune excess stems and leaves. Frost-resistant varieties of Azolla have not yet been bred, so for the winter the plants are transferred to warm rooms and kept in glass aquariums until spring. The culture does not require prophylactic treatments for diseases and pests.
Application
Azolla is widely used in landscape design. It is used to decorate small and medium-sized reservoirs, as well as winter gardens. Azolla enriches the water with oxygen, thereby creating a favorable environment for fish fry. For these excellent practical properties, the plant is appreciated by experienced aquarists, especially for the species - Caroline Azolla. The crop is also used in agriculture as nitrogen fertilizer.
Recommended:
Azolla Carolina
Azolla carolina (lat.Azolla caroliniana) - a floating plant from the Azoll family. This lace moss-like plant can beautify almost any body of water. Description Azolla Caroline is a miniature aquatic plant, the height of which does not exceed one or two centimeters.
Original Azolla Pinnate
Azolla pinnate is very widespread in the impressive territory of the picturesque African continent. It can often be found on such large islands as Madagascar and New Guinea, as well as in Australia and Asia. Azolla cirrus grows mainly in flooded pastures and in ponds with stagnant water. This aquatic inhabitant prefers an aquatic environment enriched with all kinds of nutrient compounds. At the same time, azolla plumose is excellent for cultivation in aquariums
Azolla Carolina - Marvelous Water Fern
Azolla Carolina grows in nature mainly in South, Central, and also in distant North America. Slow-flowing rivers, ponds and lakes are its favorite habitat. This bizarre fern forms rather amusing green islands floating on the water surface, and is distinguished by a pronounced seasonal growth pattern with a characteristic dormant period in winter. Similar to lace moss, Azolla Carolina will beautifully decorate almost any body of water
Azolla - Floating Fern
This aquatic plant, similar to duckweed or openwork moss, is quite small compared to ordinary ferns, but still incredibly attractive. The homeland of such a tiny fern is the tropical waters of America. The Azolla beauty is great for decorating the water surface of medium and small reservoirs. The dense and graceful decorative carpet formed by her will appeal to many
