The taxonomy and distribution of Azolla species in southern Africa |
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Authors: | P J ASHTON R D WALMSLEY |
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Institution: | Department of Plant Sciences, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa |
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Abstract: | The three Azolla species which occur in southern Africa, A. pinnata var. pinnata, A. nilotica and A. filiculoides are identified and their distributions illustrated. The endosymbiotic cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae occurred in dorsal leaf lobe cavities of all three species. The first two species are indigenous to southern Africa, whilst the third, A. filiculoides , is an introduced species from North America. Possible means whereby this species could have been introduced are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Azolla distribution identification southern Africa |
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