Wood Fern, Southern Shield Fern
Thelypteris kunthii
Characteristics
- Environment - Protected limestone crevices and bluffs.
- Fronds - Single fronds growing from a common root ball.
- Leaves - Closely attached, dense triangular leaflet pattern, hairy on lower surfaces, HIRSUTE MIDVEIN on upper surface.
- Rachis - Green with dense perpendicular hairs.
- Spores - Several separate clusters of spores near the edges of the leaflets.
Typical large group of these ferns in a protected limestone crevice. Each frond grows directly from a common root system.
Typical form of a single frond.
Pinnule upper surfaces showing MIDVEIN HAIRS.
Clusters of spores in the center of each pinnule. Note the dense hairs on the rachis and the pinnules.
Ferns Gallery
