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Nardoo (Marsilea drummondii) is a species of fern native to Australia. It is widespread and common, particularly in inland regions of Australia. A rhizomatous perennial aquatic fern, whoe roots in the mud substrates and produces herbage that float on the surface of water. They mainly occur in still water, up to one metre deep and appearance in abundance after floods.


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Tracheophytes
  • Division: Polypodiophyta
  • Class: Polypodiopsida
  • Order: Salviniales
  • Family: Marsileaceae
  • Genus: Marsilea
  • Species: Marsilea drummondii

Footnote & References

  1. Marsilea drummondii, Common Nardoo, Growing Native Plants, Australian National Herbarium, https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2004/marsilea-drummondii.html
  2. Nardoo, the desert fern, by Abbie Thomas, ABC Science, https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/03/08/2041341.htm
  3. Marsilea drummondii, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsilea_drummondii (last visited July 10, 2022).
  4. Did Burke and Wills die because they ate nardoo?, State Library of Victoria \ Dig: The Burke & Wills Research Gateway, https://burkeandwills.slv.vic.gov.au/ask-an-expert/did-burke-and-wills-die-because-they-ate-nardoo

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