Rumohra adiantiformis (G.Forst.) Ching

Iron fern (en)

Species

Pteridophytes > Polypodiales > Dryopteridaceae > Elaphoglossoideae > Rumohra

Characteristics

Rhizome stout, far-creeping, ± 5 mm. diam., densely clad in pale brown ovate-to subulate-attenuate paleae up to 1 cm. or more long; stipites rather distant along rhizome. Stipes stout, grooved, up to 5 mm. diam., 30-65 cm. long, smooth, ± densely paleate. Rhachis stout, grooved, subflexuose, paleate. Lamina 20-40-(50) × 15-30 cm., ovate-deltoid, 2-3-pinnate, acuminate, very coriac., rigid, light green, glab. or nearly so. Larger (lower) pinnae 13-18 × 5-9 cm., stalked, ascending, alt., rather distant, ovate-to lanceolate-deltoid, acuminate. Secondary pinnae up to 5 × 2 cm., about ovate. Tertiary pinnae or segs up to 15 × 5 mm. Final lobes about oblong, rounded. Sori cop. in 2 rows along secondary pinnae, with accessory ones in lobes, up to c. 20 per pinna, 1·5-2 mm. diam. Indusium flat, with raised ± crenulate margins.
More
Rhizome creeping, c. 8 mm in diameter, set with membranous, reddish brown, acuminate, erose rhizome-scales c. 8 x 3.5 mm. Fronds spaced, coriaceous; stipe brown, sulcate ventrally, set with light brown scales, becoming glabrous with age; lamina pentagonal, 3-pinnate to 4-pinnatifid, basal pinnae largest and greatly developed basiscopically; pinnules ovate-deltate, leading edge wider and first segment more deeply incised; ultimate segments ovate or oblong, obtuse, margin crenate-dentate, upper surface glabrous, lower surface set with occasional scales on veins. Sori c. 2 mm in diameter; indusium peltate.
Rhizome 1-1.5 cm thick. Scales pale to dark brown; margins entire or minutely toothed; apices acuminate. Fronds scattered, 20-90 cm long. Stipe often as long as the lamina, with thin brown peltate scales. Lamina ovate to deltate, 10-50 cm long, 7-40 cm wide, bright green to yellow-green above, paler and dull beneath; ultimate segments oblong, crenate to bluntly lobed; veins immersed. Sori black at maturity; indusium with a dark centre.
Rhizome widely creeping, up to 20 mm in diam., densely scaled. Fronds erect or arching, spaced, up to 1.2 m long. Stipe scaled, adaxial sulcus centrally ridged. Lamina pentagonal, up to 500 x 400 mm, 3-pinnate to 4-pinnatifid, proximal pinnae basiscopically developed; ultimate segments coriaceous, ovate, crenate-dentate, sparsely scaled abaxially. Sori round, up to 1.8 mm in diam. Indusium peltate, entire.
Rhizomatous perennial. Fronds arching, to 1.2 m long, stipe scaled, lamina coriaceous, pentagonal, 3-pinnate to 4-pinnatifid, proximal pinnae basiscopically developed, ultimate segments ovate, margins crenate-dentate, sparsely scaled beneath. Sori circular, indusium peltate.
Rhizome creeping, ±8 mm in diameter, set with reddish brown, erose rhizome-scales. Lamina 3-pinnate to 4-pinnatifid, 300-900 x 100-300 mm, glabrous. Pinnules ovate-deltate, margin crenate-dentate. Indusia peltate. Sori ± 2 mm in diameter, numerous.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support -
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality -
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) 0.5 - 1.0
Mature height (meter) 0.5 - 1.0
Root system rhizome
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color -
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway c3

Environment

Grows in moist to wet forests as an epiphyte, often on rotting trunks and tree ferns, on rocks and occasionally as a terrestrial plant.
Light 4-6
Soil humidity -
Soil texture 7-8
Soil acidity 2-6
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 10-12

Usage

Uses environmental use medicinal
Edible -
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Mode -
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Leaf

Rumohra adiantiformis leaf picture by Mary Olsen (cc-by-sa)
Rumohra adiantiformis leaf picture by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Rumohra adiantiformis leaf picture by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Rumohra adiantiformis flower picture by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Rumohra adiantiformis fruit picture by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Rumohra adiantiformis world distribution map, present in Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Guyana, Jamaica, Madagascar, Mauritius, New Zealand, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Uruguay, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), South Africa, and Zimbabwe

Conservation status

Rumohra adiantiformis threat status: Least Concern

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:224543-2
WFO ID wfo-0001107747
COL ID 4TQ6Q
BDTFX ID 51934
INPN ID 706766
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Rumohra quadrangularis Aspidium adiantiforme Aspidium discolor Aspidium duriusculum Dryopteris capensis Dryopteris thomassetii Polystichum duriusculum Polystichum macroporum Polypodium argentatum Polypodium thomassetii Lastrea ferruginea Aspidium cunninghamianum Aspidium cunninghamii Dryopteris discophora Tectaria calahuala Polystichum coriaceum Tectaria coriacea Hypopeltis coriacea Aspidium politum Polypodium calyptratum Aspidium calyptratum Nephrodium duriusculum Polystichum remotum Lastrea adiantiformis Aspidium orientale Aspidium clypeolarium Polypodium adiantiforme Polypodium coriaceum Polystichum adiantiforme Polypodium politum Aspidium ferrugineum Polypodium adianthoides Dryopteris adiantiformis Rumohra aspidioides Rumohra adiantiformis