Morphologically Elaphoglossum can be distinguished from other ferns by simple-bladed fronds and acrostichoid sori (sporangia distributed over the entire lower surface of the blade). Other characteristics are a transversely elongated ventral meristele in the rhizome, dimorphic fertile and sterile fronds, and free veins.
Although easy to distinguish at the generic level, Elaphoglossum is taxonomically difficult at the species level, its species being relatively uniform and their distinguishing characters typically few and subtle. To make the genus more manageable to monograph, Mickel and Atehortúa (1980) proposed an infrageneric classification of Elaphoglossum. Their study stands as one of the most comprehensive, precise, and extensive studies on the classification of the group. Even today, it remains as the framework for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of the genus. Their classification was based entirely on morphological evidence, mainly on scales characters, but also on sporophyte (hydathodes, rhizome habit, phyllopodia and blade texture and shape) and spore morphology.
Recently molecular studies based on chloroplast DNA sequences have explored the relationships among the main groups of (see phylogeny). They gave an outline of the evolutionary lineages within the genus by recognizing several monophyletic subgroups. These clades largely agree with the sections proposed by Mickel and Atehortúa (1980) in their morphology-based infrageneric classification of Elaphoglossum. Based on the molecular analyses, five major clades within Elaphoglossum are recognized:
Species Pages
Species descriptions and living plant images will be made available over the course of the project. Some example pages include:
If you are interested in a particular species, please search by plant name (species or subspecies) or author. You can also click on List of Names for an alphabetical list of all names.