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Lindsaea Fern
Lindsaea odorata
ホングウシダ
A fern growing in moist forests of the Ryukyu Islands and southern Kyushu. It has a delicate appearance with small elongated fronds bearing fan-shaped pinnae arranged in two rows. The name derives from 'Hongu' (a place name in Kumano), reflecting its preference for warm, humid environments.
Identification Points
- ✓Fan-shaped pinnae arranged in two rows along the rachis
- ✓Sori continuous along the leaf margins
- ✓Grows in warm, moist forest understory
Habitat
Moist forest understory and rocks of the Ryukyu Islands and southern Kyushu
Season
Year-round (evergreen)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Evergreen/Deciduous
Evergreen
Leaf shape
Linear
Phylogenetic Positionホングウシダ科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Vascular plants > Polypodiophyta > Polypodiopsida > Polypodiales > Lindsaeaceae
Divergence Era
Cretaceous (ca. 90 million years ago–)
Evolution Notes
Lindsaeaceae is one of the early-diverging lineages among ferns, characterized by sori continuous along leaf margins. It is primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.
View on evolution timeline →Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification