Azolla japonica

Family	Azollaceae (also placed in Salviniaceae)
Scientific name	Azolla japonica (Franchet et Savatier) Franchet et Savatier ex Nakai
Synonyms	none (See Note below)
Common name	(Japanese common name) oh-aka-ukikusa (オオアカウキクサ, 大赤浮草 [meaning: large red floating weed])
	(English common name) none
Distribution	(Japan) Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu
	(Other nations) unknown
Chromosomal number	2n=44
Description	Plants 1.5-7cm. Leaves ca. 2mm. Water plants.
Reference	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	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.

February 2008 at Tsukuba Botanical Garden	February 2008 at Tsukuba Botanical Garden	February 2008 at Tsukuba Botanical Garden

February 2008 at Tsukuba Botanical Garden