Acrostichum

Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Divisio: Pteridophyta
Subdivisio: Pterophyta
Classis: Pteridopsida
Ordo: Pteridales
Familia: Pteridaceae
Subfamilia: Parkerioideae
Genera: Acrostichum
Species: A. aureum - A. danaeifolium - A. speciosum

Name

Acrostichum L. (1753)

References

* Smith, A.R. et al. 2006; "A classification for extant ferns" Taxon 55(3):705–731 pdf
* Acrostichaceae, genus Acrostichum: world species list
* Flora of North America
* USDA Plants Database

Acrostichum was one of the original pteridophyte genera delineated by Linnaeus. It was originally drawn very broadly, including all ferns that had sori apparently "acrostichoid", or distributed in a solid mass across the back of the frond, rather than organized in discrete sori. This led Linnaeus to include such species as Asplenium platyneuron in the genus, because the specimen he received had sori so crowded that it appeared acrostichoid.

Since Acrostichum aureum is regarded as the type for the genus, it is now narrowly circumscribed only to the natural genus of three species, that are allied to the genus Ceratopteris. They are collectively known as the leather ferns or leather swamp ferns, genus members commonly being found in swamps. The species of Acrostichum are massive ferns, with fronds up to 12 feet (3.5 meters) tall, that depend on a semi-aquatic existence. They do not withstand prolonged immersion, but require wet roots. The species Acrostichum aureum is known to have a high saltwater tolerance, growing in mangroves.

Species

* Acrostichum aureum L.
* Acrostichum danaeifolium (Langsd.) Fisch.
* Acrostichum speciosum Willd.

References

* World species list for Acrostichum: http://homepages.caverock.net.nz/~bj/fern/acrostichum.htm
* C.Michael Hogan. 2010. Fern. Encyclopedia of Earth. National council for Science and the Environment. Washington, DC