Marsilea sp.
Water-clover, Water-Clover
no rights reserved, uploaded by clynbrown1 · CC0
Family: Marsileaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Marsilea sp. (Water-clover) is a native California perennial in the Marsileaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Oxalis: Marsilea grows in water and has wedge-shaped leaflets; wood sorrel grows on land with heart-shaped or notched leaflets.; vs Trifolium: Marsilea is a fern with spore cases at leaf base; true clover is a legume with flowers and pods above ground.; vs Medicago: Marsilea has four equal leaflets; medick has three leaflets and produces coiled seed pods above ground.; vs Melilotus: Marsilea floats in water with four wedge-shaped leaflets; sweet clover is a tall land plant with narrow three-part leaves.; vs Hydrocotyle: Marsilea has four separate leaflets like a clover; pennywort has round, shield-like leaves attached at the center.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marsilea sp. native to California?
Yes. Marsilea sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Marsilea sp. belong to?
Marsilea sp. is in the Marsileaceae family, genus Marsilea.
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.