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Thelypteris acuminata
(Houtt.) C.V.Morton
Maiden Fern
Thelypteridaceae
Thelypteris acuminata is a species of fern in the family Thelypteridaceae. It is native to East Asia and the Philippines.
Description
Thelypteris acuminata grows up to about 60 cm tall, but occasionally 80 cm. Rhizomes are creeping, with brown lanceolate scales. Fronds are pinnate-pinnatifid. Blades are about 30 to 50 cm long and 10 to 25 cm wide on a straw-colored or brown, 20 to 30 cm long stipe. They have 10 to 20 leaflet pairs, about 8 to 15 cm long and roughly 1 cm wide, lobed halfway or two-thirds to the midrib, that are long-pointed at tips. Veins have tiny needle-like white hairs on both sides. Sori are round, and indusia are slightly hairy (Wu et al. 2013).
Variety kuliangensis exists; it differs from the main variety acuminata by having less pointed leaf tips and basal leaflets being slightly shorter than middle leaflets. It is restricted to southeastern China (Wu et al. 2013).
Variety kuliangensis exists; it differs from the main variety acuminata by having less pointed leaf tips and basal leaflets being slightly shorter than middle leaflets. It is restricted to southeastern China (Wu et al. 2013).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Thelypteris acuminata is reportedly used in medicine, but is generally a common weed (Xu and Deng 2017).
Distribution
Thelypteris acuminata is found in more open areas like thickets, grasslands, and roadsides, at altitudes of up to 1700 m. It has been found in China, Taiwan, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and the Philippines (Wu et al. 2013). The species was found to be escaped in southern California (Morton 1958).
Status
References
Morton, C. V. 1958. The Californian Species of Thelypteris. American Fern Journal, 48(4): 136–142.
Xu, Z., and Deng, M. 2017. Identification and Control of Common Weeds, Volume 2. Berlin: Springer.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2013. Flora of China. Vol. 2-3 (Lycopodiaceae through Polypodiaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Xu, Z., and Deng, M. 2017. Identification and Control of Common Weeds, Volume 2. Berlin: Springer.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2013. Flora of China. Vol. 2-3 (Lycopodiaceae through Polypodiaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Description
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