Water Clover, European waterclover

Marsilea quadrifolia

Physical Characteristics

Marsilea quadrifolia is a FERN growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can grow in water.

Distribution

C. Europe to Asia.

Habitats

Pond; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Young stems and leaves[105, 145]. A famine food, only used in times of scarcity[218]. The spores are produced in a sporocarp (like a fairly large container) and in allied species this is ground up and mixed with flour etc and used in making bread etc. It is rich in starch[144].

Medicinal Uses

Antidote Antiphlogistic Depurative Diuretic Febrifuge Skin A juice made from the leaves is diuretic and febrifuge[218]. It is also used to treat snakebite and applied to abscesses etc[218]. The plant is anti-inflammatory, diuretic, depurative, febrifuge and refrigerant[147, 178, 218].

Known Hazards

Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[200]. Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase[172].