The
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 ...
genus ''Leptopteris'' is a small group of plants found growing in the Pacific Islands,
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...
and
Australia. They are similar to ferns in the related genus ''
Todea'', and were originally included in that genus. However, the very thin fronds of ''Leptopteris'' differ from the thick leathery fronds of ''
Todea'', and the genera are considered distinct.
A probable extinct species, ''Leptopteris estipularis'' is known from the Early Cretaceous of India.
Species
Species include:
* ''
L. alpina''
(Baker) C. Chr.
* †''
L. estipularis''
(Sharma, Bohra & Singh) Bomfleur, Grimm & McLoughlin
* ''
L. fraseri''
(Hooker & Grev.) Presl (Crepe fern, Australia)
* ''
L. hymenophylloides''
(Richard) Presl (Single crepe fern)
* ''
L. x intermedia''
(André) Brownsey
* ''
L. laxa
''Freesia laxa'', commonly known as flowering grass, is a small species of cormous flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, from eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya to northeastern South Africa. It is grown in gardens as an ornamental pl ...
''
Copeland
* †''
L. minuta''
Romanovskaja
* ''
L. moorei''
(Baker) Christ
* ''
L. superba''
(Colenso) Presl (Prince of Wales feather)
* ''
L. wilkesiana''
(Brack.) Christ
Phylogeny
Phylogeny of ''Leptopteris''
References
Osmundales
Ferns of Asia
F