Hypolepis
Hypolepis, is a pan-tropical genus containing approximately 45 species worldwide, 7 native and one adventure species in Australia (Chinnick, 1987).
It is part of the Dennstaedtiaceae family, which contains the worlds’ most abundant species of fern Pteridium aquilunum.(dennstaedtiaceae) Members of the order are typically of a weed like nature, they usually exhibit large, highly divided leaves. (P.J. Brownsey, 1998). The size of the species within the Hypolepis genus range from medium to large terrestrial plants, of about 0.5m to 3m (TAXONOMY, 2006)
There are no major threats to Hypolepis in Western Australia; therefore conservation of the genus is not of high concern.
There are no major current threats to the Hypolepis genus in Western Australia.
Hypolepis Berth is a genus containing terrestrial, perennial ferns (Chinnick, 1987). The rhizomes are creeping or rarely erect, and usually covered in simple hairs. The fronds or leaves are often large, containing 2 to 5-pinnate and are hairy and lacking scales; the pinnules can be either lobed or pinnatifid, glabrous or pubesent (P.J.Brownsey,1990). Veins are free. Sori are round or elongate, varying from marginal or terminal on veins, to submarginal and not quite terminating veins, lacking paraphyses, true inner indusium is always absent (Chinnick, 1987). Hairs are present on stipe, rachis, lamina, or rizome, and are often plentiful, can be either glandular or non-glandular, they are also sometimes modified on stipe and a vein (P.J.Brownsey,1990). Annuals are vertically or slightly oblique. Indusium consists of a flexed lamina flap, and is sometimes totally lacking in species with submarginal sori. Spores are monolete and numerous?(P.J.Brownsey,1990).
Hypolepis emerged from Petridophyta- monilophytes (ferns and fern allies), and is a very broad genus containing many well largely studied and well known species (Flora Australia Online, 1998). The genus is very closely related to two other genus’s Paesia and Pteridium (P.J.Brownsey,1990).
Plantae
Pteridophyta
Polypodiopsida/ Pteridopsida
Polypodiales
Dennstaedtiaceae
Hypolepis
Is widely dispersed covering central and south America, Southern Africa, India, China, Japan, SE Asia, Australasia and the pacific.
The genus thrives in tropical and temperate regions
Hypolepis species are generally viewed as weed species (dennstaedtiaceae), though some species of Hypolepis are often grown for ornamental purposes, and the rhizomes of some species such as the fiddleheads/ crosiers of Pteridium aquilunum have been known to be eaten, though contain toxic substances therefore this no longer happens (European Garden Flora, 1986)
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