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Bristle Fern
Microlepia strigosa
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A large fern growing on the forest floor and cliff faces in warm regions. The fronds are bi- to tripinnate and densely hairy throughout. Sori are located near the leaf margins, enclosed in cup-shaped indusia.
Identification Points
- βLarge fronds (50β100 cm) that are bi- to tripinnate
- βDensely hairy on all surfaces of the frond
- βSori enclosed in cup-shaped indusia, arranged near the leaf margins
Habitat
Forest floors, cliff faces, and valley sides in warm-temperate regions
Season
Year-round; spores produced in summerβautumn
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Herb
Leaf type
Compound
Habitat
Forest
Phylogenetic Positionγγ‘γ¦γ©γγ·η§ β
Phylogenetic Position
Vascular plants > Polypodiophyta > Polypodiopsida > Polypodiales > Grammitidaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene (ca. 50 million years agoβ)
Evolution Notes
The broadly defined family including Microlepia is widely distributed from the tropics to temperate zones and contains a diverse range of species adapted to forest floor environments.
View on evolution timeline βSources & References
AI-generated, needs verification