Dicksonia

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Dicksoniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Dicksonia

  • Description

    Genus Description - Terrestrial; stems forming erect trunks, apices densely clothed with stiff golden brown to brown hairs; fronds large, not articulate, monomorphic (fertile laminae slightly contracted); stipes hairy; blades bipinnate-pinnatifid to tripinnate, coriaceous, with sparse hairs; veins free; sori marginal, indusia bivalvate, the innervalve fitting into the outer; sporangia with oblique annuli; spores tetrahedral; x=65.

  • Discussion

    Lectotype (chosen by Presl, Suppl. Tent. Pterid. 135. 1836.): Dicksonia arborescens L’He´r.

    Balantium Kaulf., Enum. Filic. 228. 1824. Lectotype (chosen by Maxon, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 12: 455. 1922): Balantium auricomum Kaulf. [= Dicksonia arborescens L’He´r.].

    Dicksonia is a genus of about 20 species, mostly of the temperate Australasian areas, with three species thought to occur in tropical America, generally at high elevations. There is one species in Mexico. Dicksonia is allied to Cibotium, differing from that genus by its erect trunk and nonglaucous abaxial laminae. Another ally is Culcita, differing from Dicksonia by the distinct trunks and the blades 3-pinnate or less divided (vs. trunkless and the blades 4-pinnate).