Acadian quillwort facts for kids

The Acadian quillwort, known scientifically as Isoetes acadiensis, is a special type of plant. It belongs to a group of plants called quillworts. This plant was first officially described by a scientist named Kott in 1981. It is part of the Isoetaceae family, which includes many other quillwort species.

Where the Acadian Quillwort Lives

The Acadian quillwort likes to grow in wet places. You can find it along the edges of lakes, ponds, and rivers. It grows both in Canada and the United States.

Canadian Homes

In Canada, this plant lives in the eastern provinces. You can find it in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

American Homes

In the United States, the Acadian quillwort grows in several northeastern states. These include Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. It often grows in the same areas as another type of quillwort, I. tuckermanii.

What the Acadian Quillwort Looks Like

This plant has several interesting features. Its leaves are usually dark green. Sometimes, they can have a reddish tint.

Leaves

Each Acadian quillwort plant has between 9 and 35 leaves. These leaves are usually curved backwards. They can grow to be about 5 to 21 centimeters long.

Spores

Quillworts reproduce using spores, not seeds. The Acadian quillwort has two types of spores:

• Megaspores: These are larger, round spores. They are about 400 to 570 micrometers across. They have smooth ridges on their surface.
• Microspores: These are smaller, kidney-shaped spores. They are about 25 to 30 micrometers long.

The plant also has a part called a sporangium. This is where the spores are made. The sporangium can be up to 5 millimeters long and 3 millimeters wide. A thin cover called a velum covers part of it.

How It Was Identified

When scientists first found the Acadian quillwort, they thought it was a different species. They believed it was a type of Isoetes hieroglyphica. This was because their megaspores looked very similar. However, further study showed it was a unique species.