Azolla (water fern)

Genus comprised of seven species of aquatic ferns, the only genus of the family Azollaceae. They are floating aquatic plants, small leaves with short roots. Divided fronds whose color ranges between red and purple in full sun and pale green to bluish green in the shade. It grows very fast and is ideal to cover the surface.



Helps control the development of algae by limiting the availability of light. Requires sun or light shade. They float on the surface of the water by numerous small, closely overlapping scale-like leaves, with their roots dangling in the water. Form symbiotic relationships with the cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae, which gives the plant the ability to fix nitrogen from the air.



The carolianiana Azolla, blue green algae stored in their leaves. These algae are capable of absorbing nitrogen from the air, which can then be used by the plant.





She has become a threat to all parts of the tropics, because it covers lakes and deprives the original aquatic plants of light. They are planted in early summer, leaving it on the surface if the water does not touch dry. Multiplication Division kills or side shoot.