Flora of New Zealand Series

ferny azolla

Plants free-floating, forming extensive red-coloured mats, to 2.5 × 2 cm, broadly triangular or 5-angled in outline, regularly 2-pinnately divided, with secondary branchlets which decrease markedly in length towards proximal end of primary branches. Lvs 2-lobed; upper lobe ovate, 1-2 mm long. Roots to 5 cm long, bearing fine lateral rootlets.

N.: N. Auckland (from Rawene S.), Auckland City, S. Auckland (Coromandel, Waikato lowlands, Rotorua).

Tropical Africa, Asia, Australia 1969

Ponds and lakes.

A. pinnata is easily distinguished by its regularly 2-pinnate branching (Plate 2) and by its roots with fine rootlets. It is confined to N. districts but is apparently still spreading S.