Parkeriaceae

Ceratopteris Brongn.

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

 

Description of the genus

Aquatic ferns or found in swamps. Rhizome short, erect. Stipe thick, green, succulent. Fronds tufted, strongly dimorphic; fertile fronds larger, more dissected, bearing narrower linear segments than the sterile fronds; sterile fronds often proliferous. Veins anastomosing, without included veinlets. Sporangia sessile, borne along the veins beneath the reflexed lamina margin functioning as an indusium.

 

Derivation of name:  keras: horn, pteris: fern; an allusion to the staghorn-like shape of the fertile fronds.

Worldwide: ± 4 species, pantropical distribution

 

 

We have 1 taxa in the database for Ceratopteris.

  • Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn.
    •

     

    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.

    •