Dicranopteris

  • Authority

    Proctor, George R. 1989. Ferns of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 53: 1-389.

  • Family

    Gleicheniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Dicranopteris

  • Description

    Genus Description - A small genus of perhaps ten or a dozen species, some of them extremely variable. Two species occur in Puerto Rico, both of them widespread in the American tropics. The generic name is derived from the Greek dikranos, two-pronged + pteris, fem, alluding to the pseudodichotomous branching of the fronds.

  • Discussion

    Type Species. Polypodium dichotomum Thunberg, of eastem Asia, now correctly known as Dicranopteris linearis (Burmann filius) Underwood.

    Essential generic description as indicated in the key. Tissue usually more or less glaucous