Acrostichum danaeifolium
Collection data (N. P. Smith, )
Classification & Common Names
- Class: Polypodiopsida
- Family: Pteridaceae
- Genus: Acrostichum L.
- Species: Acrostichum danaeifolium Langsd. & Fisch.
- Common names: golden leather fern, mangrove fern, swamp fern
Collection Data
- Collection Date: 18-05-2014
- Primary collector: N. P. Smith
- Habitat: Pasture
- Habit: Terrestrial
- Observations: Growing near a stream, in pasture, on side of hill. Previous notes from post: I am not sure if this is Acrostichum aureum or A. danaeifolium. Based on Adams & Tomlinson (Adams, D. C. & P. B. Tomlinson. 1979. Acrostichum in Florida. American Fern Journal Vol. 69: 42-46) it looks like it could be A. danaeifolium (e.g., most of the pinnae are fertile on each fertile frond and the areoles next to the midrib are fairly wide. I did not look at the paraphyses. Any help in identifying this species would be appreciated.
Collection Location
- Country: Brazil
- State or Province: Minas Gerais
- City: Baixo Guandu
- Coordinates: -19.616389,-41.033333
- Elevation: 250 m
About the Author
Nathan Smith
I am an amateur botanist working on the fern and lycophyte florulas of Santa Catarina Island and the Furnas River Reserve, in southern Brazil.
Hi Nate,
I think you’re absolutely right. This looks like A. danaeifolium because the fertile leaves are entirely fertile (rather than only in the distal portion of the laminae in A. aureum); the areoles next to the costae are relatively broad; and the petioles are not spiny (i.e., without aborted pinna midribs). Also, it seems that the abaxial lamina surfaces have the numerous, tiny, erect hairs that are often found in A. danaeifolium. Very nice photos!
Thanks Fernando!