Isoetes valida (Engelm.) Clute

Carolina Quillwort; True Quillwort; Mountain Quillwort

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Carolina Quillwort is a native perennial in the Quillwort family (Isoetaceae). It occurs at scattered locations throughout most of Alabama, and is probably the most common Quillwort in the state. Carolina Quillwort occurs in mud or in shallow water along streams, around ponds, in beaver ponds, and in roadside ditches. It is a perennial from a globose, corky, 2-lobed subterranean corm. The corm produces white, spongy roots from the base and sides, and leaves from the upper portions. The leaves are spirally arranged, hollow, spongy, linear, glabrous, and yellowish green to dark green in color. The bases of the leaves below soil level are white. Carolina Quillwort reproduces by forming spores. The spores are in sporangia located at the bases of the leaves. The sporangia are ¾’s covered by a flap of tissue known as the velum. The plants produce two types of spores. The megaspores are larger, white in color, and have walls that are cristate to reticulate with broken ridges. The microspores are smaller, tan to light brown in color, with spinulose walls. For positive identification, mature spores are needed. This species has been called Isoëtes caroliniana (A. A. Eaton) Luebke, and Isoëtes engelmannii A. Braun var. caroliniana A. A. Eaton.--A. Diamond

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Native S? (State Rank) G4 (Global Rank)

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