Marsilea vestita subsp. vestita
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Marsileaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Marsilea vestita subsp. vestita is a native California perennial in the Marsileaceae family, recognized by widespread distribution with key leaflet asymmetry diagnostic.
Marsilea clover is a native aquatic fern found in diverse California bioregions including the Klamath Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, northern Central Valley, Sierra Nevada, and coastal regions at elevations up to 2,200 meters. Emerging in moist habitats like creek beds, flood basins, and vernal pools, this distinctive fern grows with delicate, four-leaflet structures reminiscent of clover leaves. Its leaves are uniquely hairy, with floating leaf stems 6 to 35 centimeters long and distinctive asymmetrical leaflets that have unequally concave sides and gently convex margins. The plant produces small, intricate sporangium cases 3 to 8 millimeters wide with unbranched stalks, adapting to seasonal wet environments. Its leaflets display an elegant, slightly asymmetric form that allows it to thrive in fluctuating water landscapes across California.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; widespread distribution with key leaflet asymmetry diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Creek beds, flood basins, vernal pools
Elevation: < 2200 m
California counties: Sonoma, San Bernardino, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Yuba, Los Angeles, Merced, Glenn, Tulare, Riverside, Colusa, Sutter, San Diego, Modoc, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Butte, Tehama, Lassen, Nevada, Siskiyou, Plumas, Kings, Fresno, San Joaquin, San Benito, Amador, Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Napa, Placer, Contra Costa, Lake, Marin, Sacramento, Solano, Sierra, Shasta, Mono, Kern, El Dorado, Yolo
Outside California: to western and central Canada, Mexico, also Peru
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 vestita subsp. vestita native to California?
Yes. Marsilea vestita subsp. vestita is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Marsilea vestita subsp. vestita grow?
Marsilea vestita subsp. vestita occurs in Sonoma, San Bernardino, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Yuba, Los Angeles, Merced and other counties, at elevations of < 2200 m.
What plant family does Marsilea vestita subsp. vestita belong to?
Marsilea vestita subsp. vestita is in the Marsileaceae family, genus Marsilea.
What habitat does Marsilea vestita subsp. vestita grow in?
Marsilea vestita subsp. vestita grows in Creek beds, flood basins, vernal pools.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.