Azolla sp.
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Family: Azollaceae · Type: Fern · Variable; species dependent
Azolla sp. is a non-native California fern in the Azollaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Lemna: Lemna has smooth round pads; Azolla has branching stems with minute scale-like leaves.; vs Spirodela: Spirodela has flat green fronds; Azolla has tiny overlapping scales creating fuzzy texture.; vs Eichhornia: Eichhornia has large inflated leaf stalks; Azolla is minuscule at under 3 cm.; vs Pistia: Pistia forms 10+ cm rosettes; Azolla is tiny at under 3 cm with branching stems.; vs Salvinia: Salvinia leaves are fingernail-sized (5+ mm); Azolla leaves are pinhead-sized (under 2 mm).
Frequently asked questions
Is Azolla sp. native to California?
No. Azolla sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Azolla sp. belong to?
Azolla sp. is in the Azollaceae family, genus Azolla.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.