On wetting, the gelatinous interior of the sporocarp swells, splitting it and releasing a worm-like mass that carries sori, eventually leading to germination of spores and fertilization.

Sporocarps of some Australian species such as Marsilea drummondii are edible and have been eaten by Aborigines and early white settlers, who knew it under the name ngardu or nardoo.

Parts of Marsilea drummondii contain an enzyme which destroys thiamine (vitamin B1), leading to brain damage in sheep and horses.

[5] Thiamine deficiency from incorrectly prepared nardoo likely resulted in the starvation and death of Burke and Wills.

[6][7] The leaves of Marsilea crenata are part of the East Javanese cuisine of Indonesia, especially in the city of Surabaya.

Additionally, this analysis contradicts reports[10] that M. polycarpa is a synonym for M. minuta M. crotophora M. polycarpa M. mutica M. aegyptiatica M. botryocarpa M. ephippiocarpa M. farinosa M. macrocarpa M. schelpiana M. vera M. villifolia M. nubica (Botswana) M. nubica (Nigeria) M. distorta M. capensis M. gibba M. ancyclopoda M. macropoda M. nashii (Grand Turk Island) M. nashii (West Indies) M. oligospora M. vestita M. villosa M. mollis M. angustifolia M. drummondii M. crenata (Indonesia) M. crenata (Thailand) M. minuta (India) M. minuta (Myanmar) M. minuta (Africa) M. fadeniana M. quadrifolia M. mutica Mett.

[1] M. ephippiocarpa Alston[1] M. botryocarpa Ballard[1] M. farinosa Launert[1] M. macrocarpa C.Presl[1] M. nubica A.Braun[1] M. capensis A.Braun[1] M. gibba Brown[1] M. coromandelina Willd.