''Lecanopteris mirabilis'' is a species of tropical

fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes except ...

in the genus ''

Lecanopteris ''Lecanopteris'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Microsoroideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). They have swollen hollow rhizomes that provide homes for symbiotic ants ...

'' native to

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

and Sulawesi. An epiphyte, its name means "wonderful" or "marvelous". Like others of its genus, it grows from a large rhizome that in this case can be up to in diameter. This rhizome forms a shelter for ants, making this a

myrmecophyte Myrmecophytes (; literally "ant-plant") are plants that live in a mutualistic association with a colony of ants. There are over 100 different genera of myrmecophytes. These plants possess structural adaptations that provide ants with food an ...

, though unlike others of its genus the rhizome is flattened and doesn't contain hollow galleries. Individual fronds may be up to long.

References

mirabilis Mirabilis is a Latin adjective meaning "amazing, wondrous, remarkable", and is used to refer to: * Annus mirabilis, a Latin phrase meaning "wonderful year" or "year of wonders" (or "year of miracles") * Anorexia mirabilis, religious fasting to the ...

Plants described in 1929 Plants described in 1825 Plants described in 1920 {{Polypodiaceae-stub