Class
Subclass
Order
Family
Classification
Subordinate Taxa
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Histiopteris (J.Agardh) J.Sm., Hist. Fil. 294 (1875)
Synonymy:
- ≡ Pteris sect. Histiopteris J.Agardh, Recens. Spec. Pter. 76 (1839)
Type Taxon:
Histiopteris vespertilionis (Labill.) J.Sm. = Histiopteris incisa (Thunb.) J.Sm.
Etymology:
Description
Terrestrial ferns. Rhizomes long-creeping, bearing hairs and clathrate scales. Fronds monomorphic. Stipes glabrous. Laminae 2–3-pinnate, herbaceous, glabrous and usually glaucous when young; primary pinnae sessile, sometimes with reduced stipule-like basal pinnules (not NZ). Veins reticulate, areoles without included veinlets; a marginal connecting vein also present. Sori more or less continuous around the lamina margin, borne on the connecting vein, superficial; paraphyses present. Pseudoindusium (formed from the reflexed membranous lamina margin) opening inwards; true inner indusium absent. Spores monolete, coarsely tuberculate.
Taxonomy
On morphological grounds, Histiopteris appears anomalous within Dennstaedtiaceae, lacking the hairs typical of the family, and having scales on the rhizome, although Kramer (1990) referred to these as pluriseriate bristles rather than true scales. The reported chromosome numbers of n = 48 and 96 do not relate easily to other members of the family. However, molecular evidence indicates that Histiopteris is clearly embedded within Dennstaedtiaceae (Perrie et al. 2015). Holttum (1967) showed that Lepidocaulon is congeneric with Histiopteris and listed about six species in his expanded genus.
Recognition
Histiopteris can be recognised by its long-creeping rhizomes, glabrous fronds, presence of scales on the rhizome and stipe bases, sessile primary pinnae, reticulate venation, and sori more or less continuous around the ultimate lamina segments and protected by the inrolled lamina margins.
Distribution
A genus of one pantropical species that extends into temperate areas of southern Chile, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the subantarctic islands (Brownsey 1998), and five or six other species in Malesia, Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands (Holttum 1967). One non-endemic species in New Zealand.
Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Indigenous (Non-endemic) | 1 |
| Total | 1 |
Cytology
Chromosome counts of n = 48 and n = 96 have been reported in Histiopteris (Löve et al. 1977), but the base number is not known with certainty.
Bibliography
Agardh, J.G. 1839: Recensio specierum generis Pteridis. Berling, Lund.
Brownsey, P.J. 1998: Dennstaedtiaceae. In: Flora of Australia. Vol. 48. 214–228.
Brownsey, P.J.; Perrie, L.R. 2018: Dennstaedtiaceae. In: Breitwieser, I.; Wilton, A.D. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle 19. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Brownsey, P.J.; Perrie, L.R. 2022: Dennstaedtiaceae. Edition 2. In: Glenny, D. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand - Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle 19. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Holttum, R.E. 1967 ("1966"): New ferns from Malesia. Kew Bulletin 20: 455–460.
Kramer, K.U. 1990: Dennstaedtiaceae. In: Kramer, K.U.; Green, P.S. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Vol. 1. In: Kubitzki, K. (ed.) The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Kramer, K.U.; Green, P.S. 1990: Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Kubitzki, K. (ed.) The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. 1. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Löve, Á.; Löve, D.; Pichi Sermolli, R.E.G. 1977: Cytotaxonomical atlas of the Pteridophyta. Cramer, Vaduz.
Perrie, L.R.; Shepherd, L.D.; Brownsey, P.J. 2015: An expanded phylogeny of the Dennstaedtiaceae ferns: Oenotrichia falls within a non-monophyletic Dennstaedtia, and Saccoloma is polyphyletic. Australian Systematic Botany 28: 256–264.
Smith, J. 1875: Historia Filicum; an exposition of the nature, number, and organography of ferns. Macmillan, London.
