Azolla cristata




Family Azollaceae (also placed in Salviniaceae)
Scientific name Azolla cristata Kaulfuss
Synonyms none (See Note below)
Common name (Japanese common name) amerika oh-aka-ukikusa (アメリカオオアカウキクサ, 亜米利加大赤浮草 [meaning: American large red floating weed])
(English common name) none
Distribution (Japan) Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu
(Other nations) [native] Canada, USA, Mexico, South America
Chromosomal number 2n=44
Description Plants 5-30mm. Leaves ca. 0.5-2mm. Water plants.
Reference Azolla microphylla Kaulf.
Azolla mexicana C. Presl
Azolla caroliniana Willd.
AAzolla filiculoides Lam.
Azolla filiculoides Lamarck
Allozyme Types of Water Fern Azolla japonica and its Relatives (Azollaceae) Growing in Japan
Diversity of Azolla japonica in Japan, Analyzed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA.
NOBANIS –Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet: Azolla filiculoides
Some Ecological Aspects of the Greater Fairy Moss, Azolla japonica Fr. Et Sav., a Native of Kawachi, the Eastmost Region of the Osaka Plain
Note Naturalized plants.
There may be a possibility that photos below are those of artificial hybrids or artificial cultivar of Azolla cristata.
Many Japanese authors describe that Azolla japonica is endemic to Japan. And Azolla japonica is registered as a threatend plant in the Red Data Book of Japan.
However, some foreign authors have described that Azolla japonica is a synonym of Azolla filiculoides Lamarck. Alos some DNA based reserach works had shown that Azolla japonica is a kind of complex which involves Azolla filiculoides Lamarck and Azolla rubra R. Brown. Also many authors have described that Azolla filiculoides Lamarck var. rubra (R. Brown) Strasburger is a synonym of Azolla rubra R. Brown one hand, but other many authors have described that Azolla filiculoides Lamarck var. rubra (R. Brown) Strasburger is a synonym of Azolla filiculoides Lamarck on the other hand. In addition, some authors have described that Azolla caroliniana Willdenow, Azolla rubra R. Brown, Azolla japonica (Franchet et Savatier) Franchet et Savatier ex Nakai, Azolla arbuscula Desvaux, Azolla filiculoides Lamarck var. rubra (R. Brown) Strasburger, Azolla magellanica Wildenow, Azolla squamosa Molina are all synonym of Azolla filiculoides Lamarck.
At the same time, the Japanese government has regarded Azolla cristata Kaulfuss as a invasive plants. Selling, exchange, transport, cultivation, or importation of Coreopsis lanceolata without any permission by the Japanese government is strictly prohibited in Japan under the Law on Prevention against Environmantal Damages by Specific Exotic Animals and Plants (Law no.78-2004, amendment in 2005). Also, The Japanese government has defined that Azolla microphylla Kaulfuss, Azolla mexicana C. Presl and Azolla caroliniana Willdenow are all synonym of Azol cristata Kaulfuss. However, many foreign authors have described that Azolla caroliniana Willdenow is a synonym of Azolla filiculoides Lamarck.
I think that such Japanese regullation might be invalid and should be reconsidered as soon as possble.
Due to the same reasons mentioned above, legal validity of patents relating to Azolla filiculoides Lamarck and other similar water ferns are in doubt.



June 2009
at Kasumigaura
June 2009
at Kasumigaura
June 2009
at Kasumigaura



June 2009
at Kasumigaura