Marsilea drummondii Common Nardoo, Nardoo PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Marsilea drummondii is a FERN growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Spores - cooked[144]. A source of starch, the spores can be ground into a powder and used like flour[154]. They are astringent and highly indigestible[154]. The spores are contained in a sporocarp[154].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Plants are hardy to about -7°c in Australian gardens[157], though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters[K].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

Plant Propagation

Spores. The plant produces sporocarps, these need to be lightly abraded and then immersed in water. The sporocarps will then swell and burst to release the spores. The spores germinate immediately, the highly developed prothallus remains inside the large seed-like spores. The gametophyte generation is completed in 24 hours and the first roots and shoots appear in 2 - 3 days. Mature plants bearing sporocarps can develop in as little as 3 months[200]. Spore germination in the family occurs after rupture of the sporocarp wall allows the sporocarp contents to be hydrated. A gelatinous structure emerges from the sporocarp, breaking it into valves and carrying the sori into the water. Spore germination (gametophyte growth) and fertilization occur immediately[270]. Division.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

AUSTRALASIA: Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia (southeast), Victoria, Western Australia (s. & w.), Northern Territory)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Marsilea mutica	Nardoo, Australian Water-Clover	Fern	0.9	8-11		LMH	SN	M	1	0
Marsilea quadrifolia	Water Clover, European waterclover	Fern	0.2	4-8		LM	SN	MWeWa	1	2	0

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Expert comment

Author

A.Braun.

Botanical References

154200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Peter Macinnis	Thu Aug 12 22:02:46 2004

In Australia, we know the plant best as nardoo, a food used by the ill-fated and ill-prepared explorers, Burke and Wills, who were introduced to it by friendly Aborigines. They died, poor chaps, though one of their party survived.

Marsilea drummondii - A.Braun.