osmunda

Osmunda
Osmunda regalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pteridophyta Class: Osmundopsida Order: Osmundales Family: Osmundaceae Genus: Osmunda L.
Species
See text

Osmunda is a genus of primarily temperate-zone ferns of family Osmundaceae. Five to ten species have been listed for this genus.

The species have completely dimorphic fronds or pinnae, green photosynthetic sterile fronds, and non-photosynthetic spore-bearing fertile fronds, with large, naked sporangia. Because of the large mass of sporangia that ripen uniformly at the same time to a showy golden color, the ferns look as if they are in flower, and so this genus is sometimes called the "flowering ferns".

Selected species

• Osmunda asiatica (syn. Osmunda cinnamomea var. asiatica) – Asian Cinnamon Fern
• Osmunda bromeliifolia
• Osmunda cinnamomea – Cinnamon Fern
• Osmunda claytoniana – Interrupted Fern, Clayton's Fern
• Osmunda japonica – Japanese Flowering Fern
• Osmunda regalis – Royal Fern

Osmunda species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including The Engrailed.

One of the species, the Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) forms huge clonal colonies in swamp areas. These ferns form massive rootstocks with densely-matted, wiry roots. This root mass is an excellent substrate for many epiphytal plants. They are often harvested as osmunda fiber and used horticulturally, especially in propagating and growing orchids.

The genus name is from Middle English and Middle French words for a type of fern.

References and external links

• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Osmunda
• Flora of North America: Osmunda
• Species list for Osmunda

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