Hedgehog Quillwort
Isoetes histrix
A rare fern ally, Hedgehog Quillwort grows in very specific sites with fluctuating water levels. Its spine-like leaves poke out of shallow depressions, easily overlooked unless one searches carefully. On Lihou, temporary pools provide a vital haven for this uncommon plant, allowing it to complete its life cycle away from heavier disturbance in other locations.
- Habitat: Seasonal pools or thin, sandy soils that become waterlogged in winter; can also occupy shallow rock depressions.
- When to See: Spore-bearing leaves appear in late winter to early spring, often drying out by summer.
- Length: Typically a small tuft of stiff, quill-like leaves ~1β3 cm long