Thelypteridaceae

Thelypteris Schmidel

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

 

Description of the genus

Plants terrestrial. Rhizome slender, long creeping, branched. Fronds monomorphic, closely to widely spaced, 2-pinnatifid to 2-pinnate, pinnae gradually decrescent basally or not at all. Veins of pinna lobes not meeting below the sinus, pinnule veins reaching the margin. Sori round, indusiate, indusium reniform, covering sporangia.

 

Derivation of name:  thelys: female, pteris: fern; obscure comparison between the small fern of this genus (female) with the tall (male) shield fern Asplenium filix mas.

Worldwide: c. 3 species, occuring in the north and south temperate regions.

 

 

We have 2 taxa in the database for Thelypteris.

  • Thelypteris confluens (Thunb.) C.V. Morton
  • Thelypteris palustris Schott
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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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