Acrostichum L.
leather fern, leather swamp fern, mangrove fern
Pteridaceae
tropical and subtropical regions worldwide
Acrostichum danaeifolium Langsd. & Fisch.
A. aureum L.
A. speciosum Willd.
information not available
not weedy
halophytic, semi-aquatic ferns
Perennial, medium to large fern; rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
erect, with scales. Fronds large, clustered, ± arching to erect, leathery; stipestipe:
(n) stalk supporting leaf or leaf-like organ
glabrousglabrous:
(adj) without hairs or scales
, usually grooved; bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
overall oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
; pinnaepinna:
(n) one of the primary divisions or leaflets in a compound leaf or frond
stalked, crowded to distant, narrowly oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
to lanceolatelanceolate:
(adj) lance-shaped; widest point below the middle, tapering to the apex
, marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
.
in nearly water logged soil, brackish conditions, mangrove swamps, salt marshes, low hammocks; along lakes, canals, and ponds
Acrostichum comprises between 3 and 20 species, depending on the author: Acrostichum danaeifolium, A. aureum, and A. speciosum are the most widely accepted species.