Classification
Class
Polypodiopsida
Subclass
Polypodiidae
Order
Salviniales Link
Family
Marsileaceae Mirb.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Pilularia L., Sp. Pl. 1100 (1753)
Synonymy:
  • = Calamistrum L. ex Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2, 822 (1891) nom. illeg.
Type Taxon:
Pilularia globulifera L.
Etymology:
From the Latin pilularis (having globular structures), a reference to the shape of the sporocarps.
Vernacular Name(s):
pillwort
 Description

Aquatic ferns, or ferns of periodically wet places. Rhizomes short- to long-creeping, branching, bearing roots at nodes, bearing septate hairs or almost glabrous (not NZ). Leaves monomorphic, not articulated to rhizome, arising at nodes, with long stalks lacking lamina segments, herbaceous, glabrous. Veins greatly reduced, undivided. Sporocarps globose, sessile or stalked, hardened, hairy, attached to the rhizome at the base of the leaf stalks, opening with two valves, each containing at least two sori. Each sorus containing both mega- and microsporangia. Megaspores spheroidal to slightly ellipsoidal, plain to slightly undulate; microspores spheroidal, and plain, papillate or rugulate.

 Distribution

A genus of 6 species (Nagalingum et al. 2008) in temperate regions; one species in North and South America, two in Europe, one in Australia and New Zealand, and two in southern Africa (Crouch et al. 2011). One species in New Zealand; none endemic.

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Number of species in New Zealand within Pilularia L.
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Non-endemic)1
Total1
 Cytology

The base chromosome number in Pilularia is x = 10 (Smith et al. 2006).

 Notes

Based on analysis of five different genes, Nagalingum et al. (2008) showed that Pilularia comprises two highly supported groups – P. minuta and P. globulifera from Europe, and P. americana and P. novae-hollandiae from North America, Australia and New Zealand. The two subsequently described African species (Crouch et al. 2011) were not included in the phylogeny.

 Bibliography
Brownsey, P.J.; Perrie, L.R. 2015: Marsileaceae. In: Breitwieser, I; Heenan, P.B.; Wilton, A.D. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle 8. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Cheeseman, T.F. 1925: Manual of the New Zealand Flora. Edition 2. Government Printer, Wellington.
Crouch, N.R.; Klopper, R.R.; Burrows, J.E.; Burrows, S.M. 2011: Ferns of southern Africa. A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature, Cape Town.
Kramer, K.U.; Green, P.S. 1990: Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Kubitzki, K. (ed.) The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. 1. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Kuntze, C.E.O. 1891: Revisio Generum Plantarum. Vol. 2. Arthur Felix, Leipzig.
Large, M.F.; Braggins, J.E. 1991: Spore atlas of New Zealand ferns and fern allies. SIR Publishing, Wellington.
Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.
Nagalingum, N.S.; Nowak, M.D.; Pryer, K.M. 2008: Assessing phylogenetic relationships in extant heterosporous ferns (Salviniales), with a focus on Pilularia and Salvinia. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 157: 673–685.
Smith, A.R.; Pryer, K.M.; Schuettpelz, E.; Korall, P.; Schneider, H.; Wolf, P.G. 2006: A classification for extant ferns. Taxon 55(3): 705–731.