Abacopteris Explained

Abacopteris is a small genus of ferns in the family Thelypteridaceae.

Description

Abacopteris is a genus of medium- to large-sized ferns. Species in the genus usually have long-creeping rhizomes, with brown linear-lanceolate scales that extend onto the base of the stipe (stalk of the leaf).

Fronds are pinnately divided, and fertile and sterile fronds are similar in appearance. The stipes are straw-colored, brown, or reddish.

Leaf blades are green in color and thin to leathery in texture. The terminal pinna at the apex of the blade is similar in appearance to the lateral pinnae. The pinnae are not significantly smaller towards the base of the leaf. They may be entire (without teeth or lobes), crenate, or in one species, shallowly lobed.

Taxonomy

Abacopteris was previously sunk into Pronephrium but was restored as a full genus as a result of a phylogenetic study of the family Thelypteridaceae.

Species

, World Ferns accepted the following species:

• Abacopteris afra (Christ) comb.ined.
• Abacopteris aspera (C.Presl) Ching
• Abacopteris birii (R.D.Dixit & Balkr.) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm.
• Abacopteris gardneri (Holttum) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm.
• Abacopteris gracilis (Ching ex Y.X.Lin) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm.
• Abacopteris gymnopteridifrons (Hayata) Ching
• Abacopteris hirtisora (C.Chr.) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm.
• Abacopteris macrophylla (Ching ex Y.X.Lin) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm.
• Abacopteris nitida (Holttum) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm.
• Abacopteris nudata (Roxb.) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm.
• Abacopteris peltochlamys (C.Chr.) Holttum
• Abacopteris repanda (Fee) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm.
• Abacopteris setosa (Ching ex Y.X.Lin) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm.
• Abacopteris yunguiensis (Ching ex Y.X.Lin) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm.