Dennstaedtia
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Authority
Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.
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Family
Dennstaedtiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Genus Description - Terrestrial; rhizomes creeping or less commonly ascending, usually stout, pubescent, solenostelic; fronds large, often with a bud near the base of each stipe; blades bipinnate to quadripinnate-pinnatifid, chartaceous to coriaceous, glabrous to pubescent; veins free, extending not quite to the segment margins, tips often clavate; sori marginal, without paraphyses, inner and outer indusia forming a cup- or purse-shaped sorus, indusia not greatly modified; spores tetrahedral; x =?
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Discussion
Type: Dennstaedtia flaccida (G. Forst.) Bernh. [= Trichomanes flaccidum G. Forst.].
Dennstaedtia is most diversified in the Old World (eastern Asia and the South Pacific), with 20 species in America. In Mexico it most closely resembles Saccoloma, from which it is distinct in the hairy rhizome and the sori at the very margin. Dennstaedtia is probably most closely related to Hypolepis, Pteridium, and Histiopteris, these four genera occupying a relatively basal position (in Dennstaedtiaceae) among the higher leptosporangiate ferns. We thank Hugo Navarrete of Pontificia Universidad Cato´lica del Ecuador, Quito, for reviewing the manuscript and offering valuable suggestions.