Pilularia globulifera

Usually Pillenfarn from Thomé: Flora of Germany, Austria and Switzerland

The Ordinary Pillenfarn ( Pilularia globulifera ), also called ball - Pillenfarn, is a species in the genus of ferns pill and belongs to the family of Kleefarngewächse ( Marsileaceae ).

Description

This perennial plant has a creeping stem axis, which is approximately 1.5 mm thick. The leaves are upright, are light to dark green and rush -like, but in youth rolled up spirally. They are 3-10 cm long and 1 mm thick. At each node are 1-5 leaves. The Sporokarpien can be found at the base of the leaves; they are spherical with about 3 mm diameter and standing on short, upright stem. They are initially green, later brown and black vierfächerig. Each compartment contains a sorus. The Sporenreife achieved between July and August. The chromosome number is 2n = 26

Occurrence

Pillenfarn thrives on low lime, humus-rich sandy and muddy bottoms of temporarily flooded places such as lakeshores, pond edges, ditches and in Torfstichen, on heathland, on waterlogged corn fields and in pools. He is a Kennart of Pilularietum globuliferae ( Hydrocotylo - Baldellion Association). Its distribution is limited to Europe; it has its focus around the North Sea and extends from Portugal and Ireland, France and Italy to Scandinavia, Poland and West Russia. The plant is mainly found in the lower elevations. In Central Europe the Pillenfarn is considered highly endangered species