Dennstaedtiaceae

Pteridium Gled. ex Scop.

Photo: BT. Wursten
Zimbabwe

 

Description of the genus

Rhizome creeping. Fronds stiff, hard. Stipe with a felt of hairs just below ground-level. Lamina 3-4-pinnate, the lower surface subglabrous to densely tomentose. Sori linear, submarginal, with an outer pseudoindusium formed by the reflexed leaf margin and an inner indusium which may be reduced.

 

Derivation of name:  Pteridium: small fern

Worldwide: 1 cosmopolitan species

 

 

We have 3 taxa in the database for Pteridium.

  • Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn ssp. capense (Thunb.) C.Chr.
  • Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn ssp. centrali-africanum Hieron. ex R.E.Fr.
  • Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn ssp. aquilinum

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    Literature

  • Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature.
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13: 1-222.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0: 1-254.

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