Dennstaedtiaceae
Encyclopedia
Dennstaedtiaceae is one of fifteen families in the order Polypodiales
, the most derived families within monilophytes
(ferns). It includes the world's most abundant fern, Pteridium aquilinum
(bracken). Members of the order generally have large, highly divided leaves and have either small, round intramarginal sori with cup-shaped indusia (e.g. Dennstaedtia) or linear marginal sori with a false indusium formed from the reflexed leaf margin (e.g. Pteridium). The morphological diversity among members of the order has confused past taxonomy, but recent molecular studies have supported the monophyly of the order and the family . The reclassification of Dennstaedtiaceae and the rest of the monilophytes was published in 2006, so most of the available literature is not updated.
Characteristics described by Smith et al., and Judd et al.
. Dennstaedtiaceae now contains the previously defined families Monachosoraceae Ching, Pteridiaceae Ching, and Hypolepidaceae Pic. Serm. . Before Smith's classification in 2006, Dennstaedtiaceae was a poly- and para- phyletic
family , containing genera that now are classified within Lindsaeaceae
and Saccolomataceae
, and with the family Monachosoraceae arising from within the Dennstaedtiaceae clade. The nonmonophyletic nature of Dennstaedtiaceae (pre-2006 classification) was proved and supported by multiple molecular studies. Dennstaedtiaceae as now classified is supported as monophyletic, but the relation of the genera within the family have not yet been fully clarified.
The fiddleheads/crosiers of Pteridium aquilinum
have been known to be eaten, but they contain carcinogens, so this practice is not prevalent.
The rhizomes of Pteridium esculentum were consumed by the Maori during their settlement of New Zealand in the 13th century, but no longer are a part of the Maori diet. The rhizomes of Pteridium esculentum contain about 50% starch when they grow in loose rich soil, at relatively deep depths. The rhizomes were a staple in the diet because once dried, the rhizomes were very light (perfect for traveling) and would keep for about a year as long as they remained dry . The leaves and spores of the Pteridium esculentum are associated with toxins and carcinogens, and have been known to cause stock (cattle, sheep, horses, pigs) to sicken .
Polypodiales
The order Polypodiales encompasses the major lineages of polypod ferns, which comprise more than 80% of today's fern species. They are found in many parts of the world including tropical, semitropical and temperate areas...
, the most derived families within monilophytes
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
(ferns). It includes the world's most abundant fern, Pteridium aquilinum
Pteridium aquilinum
Pteridium aquilinum is a species of fern occurring in temperate and subtropical regions throughout much of the northern hemisphere....
(bracken). Members of the order generally have large, highly divided leaves and have either small, round intramarginal sori with cup-shaped indusia (e.g. Dennstaedtia) or linear marginal sori with a false indusium formed from the reflexed leaf margin (e.g. Pteridium). The morphological diversity among members of the order has confused past taxonomy, but recent molecular studies have supported the monophyly of the order and the family . The reclassification of Dennstaedtiaceae and the rest of the monilophytes was published in 2006, so most of the available literature is not updated.
Characteristics
- Terrestrial or scrambling over other vegetation—scandent
- Rhizomes long-creeping, occasionally short-creeping
- Rhizomes bear jointed hairs
- Rhizomes often siphonostelic or polystelic
- Petioles often with epipetiolar buds
- Petioles usually with gutter-shaped vascular strand (open end adaxial)
- Petiole pubescent of glabros
- Blades often large
- Blades often 2-3 pinnate, can be 1-4 pinnate or more divided
- Inducement of hairs, no scales
- Veins free, or forked, or pinnate, rarely vanishing
- Sori near the margin, or submarginal, sometimes fused with the blade to form a cup or pouch or obscured in a recurved portion of the blade margin
- Sori mostly linear, may be discrete
- Indusia linear or cup shaped at blade margin, or reflexed over sori
- Sporangium stalk with 1-3 rows of cells
- Spore tetrahedral and trilete, or reniform and monolete
- Gametophyte green, cordate
Characteristics described by Smith et al., and Judd et al.
Distribution of genera
Generally, the family is pantropical, but due to the distribution of Pteridium (the most widespread fern genus), Dennstaedtiaceae can be found worldwide . Pteridium is a well adapted early successional genus, generally described as a weed because of its ease of spread. The spore is light and robust, so it can travel relatively far and colonize open, disturbed environments easily. Dennsteadtia is mostly tropical to warm-temperate, but not well represented in the Amazon or Africa. Oenotrichia is in New Caledonia. Leptolepia is in New Zealand, Queensland (Australia), and in New Guinea. Microlepia is in the Asiatic-Pacific. Paesia occurs in tropical America, Asia, and the western Pacific. Hypolepis is tropical and south-temperate. Blotiella is strongly centered in Africa. Histiopteris is generally Malesian, with one pantropic to south-temperate species.History of classification
Dennstaedtiaceae was previously considered the only family the order DennstaedtialesDennstaedtiales
Dennstaedtiales is an order of ferns that includes the world's most abundant fern, Pteridium aquilinum . Members of the order generally have large, highly divided leaves and have either small, round intramarginal sori with cup-shaped indusia or linear marginal sori with a false indusium formed...
. Dennstaedtiaceae now contains the previously defined families Monachosoraceae Ching, Pteridiaceae Ching, and Hypolepidaceae Pic. Serm. . Before Smith's classification in 2006, Dennstaedtiaceae was a poly- and para- phyletic
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
family , containing genera that now are classified within Lindsaeaceae
Lindsaeaceae
Lindsaeaseae contains genera that were formerly considered part of Dennstaedtiaceae. Molecular data supported the separation of Lindsaeaseae into its own family. Lindsaeaseae is considered the most basal of the order Polypodiales...
and Saccolomataceae
Saccolomataceae
Saccolomataceae has been formerly treated as a member of the Dennstaedtiaceae, however it has been classified as its own family according to Smith et al....
, and with the family Monachosoraceae arising from within the Dennstaedtiaceae clade. The nonmonophyletic nature of Dennstaedtiaceae (pre-2006 classification) was proved and supported by multiple molecular studies. Dennstaedtiaceae as now classified is supported as monophyletic, but the relation of the genera within the family have not yet been fully clarified.
Interesting species within dennstaedtiaceae
Dennsteadtiaceae species and genera are usually known for their weedy nature (i.e. Pteridium spp., Hypolepis spp., Paesia spp.), but some species are grown ornamentally (Blotiella spp., Dennstaedtia spp., Hypolepis spp., Microlepia spp.).The fiddleheads/crosiers of Pteridium aquilinum
Pteridium aquilinum
Pteridium aquilinum is a species of fern occurring in temperate and subtropical regions throughout much of the northern hemisphere....
have been known to be eaten, but they contain carcinogens, so this practice is not prevalent.
The rhizomes of Pteridium esculentum were consumed by the Maori during their settlement of New Zealand in the 13th century, but no longer are a part of the Maori diet. The rhizomes of Pteridium esculentum contain about 50% starch when they grow in loose rich soil, at relatively deep depths. The rhizomes were a staple in the diet because once dried, the rhizomes were very light (perfect for traveling) and would keep for about a year as long as they remained dry . The leaves and spores of the Pteridium esculentum are associated with toxins and carcinogens, and have been known to cause stock (cattle, sheep, horses, pigs) to sicken .