

How to identify Carolina mosquito fern (Azolla caroliniana)
Carolina mosquito fern, also known as Eastern mosquito fern, Atlantic azolla
Carolina mosquito fern is a diminutive aquatic fern characterized by its ability to rapidly cover the surface of still and slow-moving water bodies. Its foliage, typically less than 1 inch tall, is capable of forming dense mats. This fern flourishes with a ferny texture that contributes to its ability to obstruct mosquito egg-laying. With a lush green appearance that can transition to a reddish hue, carolina mosquito fern displays delicate, overlapping fronds that contribute to its signature mat-like spread.
Delicate, scale-like leaves in two rows with distinct lobes.
Prostrate, highly branched stems with dichotomous branching pattern.
Foliage less than 1 inch tall capable of forming dense mats.
Lush green to reddish foliage with fronds overlapping to create mat-like spread.
Stems up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, 0.04 inches (1 mm) thick, aiding buoyancy.
The leaves of carolina mosquito fern are delicate and arranged in two rows of scale-like structures, each measuring approximately 0.5 mm (0.02 inches) long with two distinct lobes. The upper lobe, covered with single-celled hairs, stays above the water surface, while the larger lower lobe floats beneath it. The leaves exhibit a bright green to gray-green color but can turn reddish when exposed to full sunlight or during the fall season.
The stem of carolina mosquito fern is prostrate and highly branched. It features a smooth, slender texture, typically lying flat against the water surface. The stems are green, measuring up to 2 inches (5 cm) in length and roughly 0.04 inches (1 mm) in thickness. They display a dichotomous branching pattern, meaning each branch splits into two. These characteristics aid in the plant’s buoyancy and spreading across aquatic environments.
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Scientific Classification of Carolina mosquito fern