140.600 Pteris L.

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 genus

Rhizome erect or shortly creeping; rhizome scales linear to ovate, extending to the base of the stipe. Fronds tufted or widely spaced, herbaceous to thinly coriaceous. Lamina pinnate to 4-pinnatifid, terminal pinna similar to lateral pinnae, basal pinnae often basiscopically developed, pinnae without powder on the undersurface; veins free, united in marginal vein bearing the sori, or variously anastomising with a costal areole. Rhachis, costae and costules sometimes with spines on the underside. Sori submarginal, covered by linear indusium, formed by the deflexed margin of the lamina, opening inwards.

Derivation of name: pteron: wing; alluding to the resemblance of the symmetrical fronds to wings.

Worldwide: c. 250 species, tropical, subtropical and temperate distribution.

Zimbabwe: 9 taxa.

Pteris muricella

Links to taxa:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesFZ divisionsContent
buchananii Baker ex SimEDescription, Image
catoptera KunzeN,EDescription, Image
cretica L.N,W,C,E,SDescription, Image
dentata Forssk.EDescription, Image
friesii Hieron.N,W,C,E,SDescription, Image
linearis Poir.?Description
mildbraedii Hieron.EDescription
muricella FéeEDescription, Image
vittata L.N,W,C,E,SDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Pteris:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Pteris
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Pteris
Flora of Malawi: Pteris
Flora of Mozambique: Pteris
Flora of Zambia: Pteris

External websites:

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

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: Genus page: Pteris.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=32, retrieved 29 March 2024

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