Pteridophyta: Polypodiales

Dennstaedtiaceae - Bracken and ground ferns

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

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca

Description of the family

Large terrestrial ferns. Rhizomes subterranean, short erect or creeping, with reddish hairs. Fronds monomorphic, large with long stipes, 3-4-pinnate. Veins free or rarely anastomosing, without included veinlets, mostly ending near or in the margin. Indumentum variable. Sori circular or elongate, confined to the sinuses, marginal, sub-marginal or superficial near the margin. Exindusiate or indusium cup-shaped, a modified lobe margin, a reflexed margin or a well developed outer marginal and partially developed inner indusium, composed of groups of closely spaced acicular hairs.

Worldwide: 11 genera and c. 170 species, cosmopolitan

Zimbabwe: 5 genera and 8 taxa.

Pteridium aquilinum subsp. capense

Links to genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Blotiella R.M. TryonDescription, Image
Histiopteris (J. Agardh) J. Sm.Description, Image
Hypolepis Bernh.Description, Image
Microlepia C. PreslDescription, Image
Pteridium Gled. ex Scop.Description, Image

Other sources of information about Dennstaedtiaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Dennstaedtiaceae
Flora of Burundi: Dennstaedtiaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Dennstaedtiaceae
Flora of the DRC: Dennstaedtiaceae
Flora of Malawi: Dennstaedtiaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Dennstaedtiaceae
Flora of Rwanda: Dennstaedtiaceae
Flora of Zambia: Dennstaedtiaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Dennstaedtiaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Dennstaedtiaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Dennstaedtiaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Dennstaedtiaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Dennstaedtiaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Dennstaedtiaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Dennstaedtiaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Dennstaedtiaceae
Wikipedia: Dennstaedtiaceae
Plants of the World Online: Dennstaedtiaceae
Tropicos: Dennstaedtiaceae



Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Family page: Dennstaedtiaceae.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=71, retrieved 10 December 2024

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