Marsilea quadrifolia is quite close to Marsilea minuta, and in fact specimens of Marsilea from China seem intermediate between the two species in sporocarp size and peduncle attachment. Study of a wide range of Old World material of Marsilea would be REQUIRED, HOWEVER, to resolve the question of whether Marsilea quadrifolia and Marsilea minuta represent distinct species.Young stems and leaves. A famine food, only used in times of scarcityThe spores are produced in a sporocarp (like a fairly large container) and in allied species this is ground up and mixed with flour etc and used in making bread etc. It is RICH in starch The sporocarps are a rich source of thiaminase, an enzyme that can destroy vitamin B1 in the dietSee notes above on 'Known Hazards'[K].MedicinalThe plant is anti-inflammatory, diuretic, depurative, febrifuge and refrigerant[147, 178, 218].A juice made from the leaves is diuretic and febrifuge[218].The plant is also applied externally in the treatment of snakebites and skin injuries, including ABSCESSES[