Woodsiaceae

Athyrium Roth

Photo: BT. Wursten
Zimbabwe

 

Description of the genus

Terrestrial or epilithic ferns. Rhizome creeping or suberect to erect. Fronds monomorphic. Stipe and rhachis adaxially sulcate. Lamina pinnately compound, mostly glabrous; veins free, pinnately branched, ending short of the margin. Sori linear, borne medially along the veins or just past a fork; indusium linear to reniform, attached almost along its entire lenght, often with long marginal outgrowths.

 

Derivation of name:  athuréin: alluding to the variable shape of the sori

Worldwide: Near cosmopolitan genus, mostly distributed through the north temperate regions, ± 180 species.

 

 

We have 8 taxa in the database for Athyrium.

  • Athyrium ammifolium (Mett.) C.Chr.
  • Athyrium annae Kornas
  • Athyrium crassicaule J.P.Roux
  • Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth
  • Athyrium lewalleanum Pic.Serm.
  • Athyrium newtonii Baker
  • Athyrium rondoense Verdc.
  • Athyrium schimperi Moug. ex Fée
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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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