Didymoglossum

Scientific name

Didymoglossum Desv.

Common names

none

Family

Hymenophyllaceae

Similar genera

Bolbitis, Fissidens, Microsorum

Native distribution

tropical and subtropical Africa

Species cultivated

not known to be cultivated; may be sold under other names

Adventive distribution

none

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

epilithic epilithic:
(adj) growing on the surface of a rock
or low-epiphytic fern

Brief description

Rhizomatous rhizomatous:
(adj) possessing rhizomes
creeping fern; rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
slender, wiry, covered with dark hairs. Fronds small, thinly membranous; stipestipe:
(n) stalk supporting leaf or leaf-like organ
short, dark brown, with small scales when young; laminalamina:
(n) the expanded portion of a leaf or petal
simple or sometimes pinnatifidpinnatifid:
(adj) (of leaves) deeply pinnately lobed half way or more, but not reaching the midrib
, overall ellipticelliptic:
(adj) in the form of an ellipse (oval)
to narrowly ovateovate:
(adj) egg-shaped in outline; generally with the broad end at or near the base
, apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
round, base attenuateattenuate:
(adj) narrowing gradually to a point
, marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
, venationvenation:
(n) the arrangement of veins in a leaf
pinnatepinnate:
(adj) in the form of a feather; of, e.g., leaflets, lobes, or veins: arranged in two rows along an axis
.

Natural habitat

moist, shaded places in the forest

Additional comments

Didymoglossum contains approximately 20 species. It is often confused with liverworts.