Pleurosorus
This genus contains 3-4 species of ferns worldwide and are mostly found on or under rock overhangs (Florabase, 1998).
This genus is not threatened within Australia (Florabase, 1998)
There are no know threats to this genus.
This genus contains non aquatic annually recurring ferns of an average size that are rooted and exposed. The species within this genus do not have an underground horizontal stem but are equipped with an upright rhizome with lattice-like scales and hairs present on the fronds aswell. The fronds are 1-2 pinnate and can maintain the same form throughout it's life cycle. Sori are situated in lines along veins away from leaf edge, without an indusium, with the sporangium often covering segments of the leaf blade at maturity. Spores are bilaterally symmetrical and ridged with 36 per sporangium (P.J.Brownsey. 1998)
The two species of Pleurosorus are very similar with the only difference being the lamina and rachis found on Pleurosorus subglandulosus are covered in light brown or colorless glandular hairs (P.J.Brownsey, 1998).
Little is known about the evolution of this genus.
Kingdom - Plantae
Phylum - Charophyta
Class - Equisetopsida
Sub-class - Polypodiidae
Order - Polypodiales
Family - Asplenciaceae
Genus - Pleurosorus
(Atlas of Living Australia, n.d)
This genus is frequently regarded as a subgenus of Asplenium, Which is another genus of ferns belonging to the same family.
(Florabase, 1998)
There are three to four species found in this genus that are found in many countries such as South America, Southern Spain, Morocco, Australia and New Zealand (P.J. Brownsey, 1998). Of the three to four species that are a part of Pleurosorus, two are Western Australian species, with one of these mainly inhabiting New South Wales. This genus is often found inhabiting areas in the South, West region of Western Australia (Florabase, 1998).
Link to a Western Australian map of the distribution of Pleurosorus:
http://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/map/20908
Pleurosorus is a lithophylic genus, meaning they are often found living in or on rocks, such as rock over hangs and amongst boulders (Florabase, 1998)
There are no known uses for this genus.
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