Acrostichum

Scientific name

Acrostichum L.

Common names

leather fern, leather swamp fern, mangrove fern

Family

Pteridaceae

Similar genera

Blechnum, Bolbitis, Sium

Native distribution

tropical and subtropical regions worldwide

Species cultivated

Acrostichum danaeifolium Langsd. & Fisch.

A. aureum L.

A. speciosum Willd.

Adventive distribution

information not available

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

halophytic, semi-aquatic ferns

Brief description

Perennial, medium to large fern; rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
erect, with scales. Fronds large, clustered, ± arching to erect, leathery; stipestipe:
(n) stalk supporting leaf or leaf-like organ
glabrousglabrous:
(adj) without hairs or scales
, usually grooved; bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
overall oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
; pinnaepinna:
(n) one of the primary divisions or leaflets in a compound leaf or frond
stalked, crowded to distant, narrowly oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
to lanceolatelanceolate:
(adj) lance-shaped; widest point below the middle, tapering to the apex
, marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
.

Natural habitat

in nearly water logged soil, brackish conditions, mangrove swamps, salt marshes, low hammocks; along lakes, canals, and ponds

Additional comments

Acrostichum comprises between 3 and 20 species, depending on the author: Acrostichum danaeifolium, A. aureum, and A. speciosum are the most widely accepted species.