Isoetes howellii, or Howell's quillwort, is a species of quillwort, a type of lycophyte. It is an aquatic plant native to North America.

Isoetes howellii

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Lycophytes
Class: Lycopodiopsida
Order: Isoetales
Family: Isoetaceae
Genus: Isoetes
Species:
I. howellii
Binomial name
Isoetes howellii
Synonyms
  • Isoetes melanopoda Gay & Dur. var. californica A.A. Eat.

Distribution

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Isotes howelii is found in western North America and grows in wet habitats such as vernal pools.

Description

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It produces 5 to 28 pointed, cylindrical, bright green leaves that can reach 30 centimeters in length. The velum covers roughly one third of the spherical sporangia, which is 6 millimeters long. The ligule is in the shape of an elongated triangle. The megaspores are 420 to 610 micrometers in diameter. The coarse microspores are 25 to 30 micrometers long.[1] It is closely related to I. melanopoda and was first thought to be a variation of that species.

References

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  1. ^ Cody, William; Britton, Donald (1989). Ferns and Fern Allies of Canada. Agriculture Canada.
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