THE NATIONAL RED LIST OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Water Shamrock

Marsilea quadrifolia

Macedonian

Четирилисна разноротка

Albanian

Marsilie katërgjethëse

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Not evaluated Data deficient Least concern Near threatened Vulnerable ENDANGERED Critically endangered Extinct in the wild Extinct
NE DD LC NT VU EN CR EW EX
Taxonomy
Assessment info
Population
Habitat and Ecology
Threats
Use and Trade
Conservation Actions
Bibliography

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Marsilea quadrifolia

Authority

L.

Synonyms

/

Assessment info

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria

EN – Endangered, A2ce

Date assessed

November 2019

Assessors

Ćušterevska, R.

Reviewers

Čarni, A.

Contributors

Matevski, V.

Kostadinovski, M.

Cvetkoska, C.

Facilitators

Hofman, M.P.G.

Justification

According the literature data, in North Macedonia four sub-population were registered (Novaci, Dojran, Kochani and Monospitovo Swamp). The investigations pointing out that the sub-population in Novaci has been disappeared, while the other three are not confirmed in field work investigations in the last 10 years. Consequently, around 50% of population was reduced and continuing decline in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, quality of habitats, and number of mature individuals was inferred.

This species in EU Red List Assessment is VU and in Global Red Lis Assessment is LC.

Population

Current population trend

Decreasing

Description

In the past, the ecological conditions for the population of M. quadrifolia in North Macedonia were suitable. 

In the last decades its population unerwent continuing decline because of melioration of wetlands, and different agriculture measures in the rice fields.

There is a possibility of huge reduction of the population of this species in North Macedonia. According to literature data, four sub-population were registered in North Macedonia (Novaci, Dojran, Kochani and Monospitovo Swamp). The sub-population in Novaci has been disappeared, while the other three have not confirmed in field work investigations in the last 10 years. Consequently, around 50% of population was reduced and continuing decline in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, quality of habitats, and number of mature individuals was inferred.

Habitat and Ecology

System

Terrestrial|Freshwater (=Inland waters)

Habitat and Ecology

Marilea quadrifolia is a perennial, semi-aquatic to aquatic herb, with a slender, long-creeping rhizome. It is a heterosporous plant and its sporocarps are very firm, hairy, in groups of 2 or 3 on stalks near the base of the petiole, forming at the end of the summer. It grows in periodically wet to flooded places – swamps, periphery of marshes, temporary pools, canals or ditches of still water, ponds, and rice fields. The species is a hydrophyte.

Use and trade

Use and trade

The plant is anti-inflammatory, diuretic, depurative, febrifuge and refrigerant. A juice made from the leaves is diuretic and febrifuge. The plant is also applied externally in the treatment of snakebites and skin injuries, including abscesses.

There is no information about the use of this species on the territory of North Macedonia.

Threats

Threats

Marsilea quadrifolia is facing major threats due to the climate aridisation, limited distribution of the species, drainage and drying up of the wetlands, redirection of the river beds, overgrowth of marshes, and water pollution. Changes to hydrological cycles remains a threat.

The swamp melioration led to the extinction of the population in the village of Novaci.

In the last period, intensive agriculture activities, especially use of herbicides, in the rice fields (surrounding of Kochani and Shtip) resulted with decreasing of sub-population.

Conservation actions

Conservation actions

This species is listed on: Bern Convention, HDIIb, as well as in the IUCN Red List of most countries of the region.

According to the National Biodiversity Strategy (MoEPP, 2004) this species needs priority conservation. One of the species localities is Monospitovo – the largest wetland in North Macedonia, for which protection is priority.

Bibliography

Bibliography

Council of Europe. 1979. Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. European Treaty Series No. 104. Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France . .p /.

Euro+Med. 2019. Euro+Med PlantBase. Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum. Berlin-Dahlem. .p /.

EEC. 1992. The Habitats Directive – Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992. European Economic Community. Official Journal of the European Communities. .p 7-50.

Micevski, K. 1985. Flora na SR Makedonija MANU. Skopje, 1(1): 1-157. .p 1-157.

Brajanovska, R. i dr. 2018. Nacionalna strategija za bioloshka raznovidnost so akciski plan za periodot 2018-2023 godina. MZSPP. Skopje. .p 1-185.

Kitanov, B. 1948. Floristichni materijali od Makedonija i Bugarija. .p 215-222.

Micevski, K 1956. Prilog za zapoznavanje na florata na Makedonija I. .p 99-118.

Christenhusz, M. and Raab-Straube, E. von. 2013. Polypodiopsida . .p /.

Christenhusz, M.J.M. and Chase, M.W. 2014. Trends and concepts in fern classification. .p 571-594.

Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group (PPG I). 2016. A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns. 563–603. DOI: 10.1111/jse.12229. .p /.