Osmunda spectabilis

Osmunda spectabilis
American royal fern
Osmunda spectabilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Division:Pteridophyta
Class:Polypodiopsida/Pteridopsida
(disputed)
Order:Osmundales
Family:Osmundaceae
Genus:Osmunda
Species: O. spectabilis
Binomial name
Osmunda spectabilis

Osmunda spectabilis or (American) Royal Fern is a species of fern once thought to be the same as Osmunda regalis, but recent genetic studies have shown it to be a separate species.[1]

Description

Closeup of sterile frond

Osmunda spectabilis is an easy fern to recognize in the New World flora. Although it closely resembles species O. regalis, O. japonica, and O. lancea, only O. spectabilis is found growing naturally in the New World. The fronds of O. spectabilis can exceed 1 meter in length and are bipinnate. The pinnules are attached by a very narrow base. The plant produces separate sterile and fertile fronds. Fertile fronds are similar to the sterile fronds, in the lower and middle portions, but the top-most pinnae are fertile and they are much reduced and brown when mature in the early summer.[2]

Taxonomy

Osmunda spectabilis was formerly considered to be a variety of Osmunda regalis (Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis). Another variety, Osmunda spectabilis var. brasiliensis, (formerly Osmunda regalis var. brasiliensis) also exists in tropical regions of Central and South America, but it is only recognized by some authors.

Osmunda

subg. Claytosmunda

Osmunda claytoniana

 
 

subg. Plenasium

 

Osmunda javanica

 
 

 

Osmunda banksiifolia

 
 

Osmunda vachellii

 
 
 
subg. Osmunda

 

Osmunda regalis

 
 

 

Osmunda spectabilis

 
 

 

Osmunda japonica

 
 

Osmunda lancea

 
 
 
 
 
 

Osmunda angustifolia, Osmunda bromeliifolia, and all extinct Osmunda species are missing from this cladogram. The classification is based on the genetic analysis presented in "The Paraphyly of Osmunda is Confirmed by Phylogenetic Analyses of Seven Plastid Loci."[1]

Distribution and Habitat

American royal fern is most commonly found growing in wetter soils such as those found in wet forests, bogs, and along streams and lakes.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Metzgar, Jordan S., Judith E. Skog, Elizabeth A. Zimmer, and Kathleen M. Pryer (2008). "The Paraphyly of Osmunda is Confirmed by Phylogenetic Analyses of Seven Plastid Loci." Systematic Botany https://sites.duke.edu/pryerlab/files/2017/12/metzgar-et-al-osmunda-2008.original.pdf
  2. ↑ Fewless, Gary. "Royal Fern". Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "Royal Fern". Connecticut Botanical Society. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
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