Aglaomorpha (plant)

Aglaomorpha is a genus of ferns in the subfamily Drynarioideae of the family Polypodiaceae.[1] The Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I) uses this genus name,[1] while other sources use Drynaria to include Aglaomorpha.[2] Species are commonly known as basket ferns. As circumscribed in PPG I, the genus contains around 50 species.[1]

Aglaomorpha
Temporal range: Piacenzian to Present
↓
Cultivated Aglaomorpha rigidula in Florida
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Polypodiineae
Family: Polypodiaceae
Subfamily: Drynarioideae
Genus: Aglaomorpha
Schott
Species

See text

Synonyms[1]
  • Christiopteris Copel.
  • Drynaria J.Sm.
  • Dryostachyum J.Sm.
  • Merinthosorus Copel.
  • Photinopteris J.Sm.
  • Pseudodrynaria C.Chr.
  • Thayeria Copel.

Basket ferns are epiphytic or epipetric and are native to tropical Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Oceania. Some species are economically important as medicinal plants.

Description
Aglaomorpha rigidula growing on rocks in Australia. The fertile foliage fronds are large and dark green, the smaller brown sterile nest fronds are clustered at their bases.
Sori on the abaxial surface of the foliage frond of Aglaomorpha quercifolia.

Basket ferns are characterized by the presence of two types of fronds, fertile foliage fronds and sterile nest fronds. The dark green foliage fronds are large, 2–4 feet (0.61–1.22 m) long, with elongated stalks. They are deeply lobed or pinnate, winged, and bear sori (structures producing and containing spores) on the bottom surfaces.

The nest fronds are smaller rounded leaves basal to the foliage fronds. They do not bear sori and are persistent, not being shed after turning brown and dying. They form a characteristic 'basket' that collect litter and organic debris, hence the common name.[3] The collected debris decompose into humus, providing the plants with nutrients it would otherwise not have received from being suspended above the ground.[4][5]

Both frond types grow from rhizomes typically anchored to a tree or a rock.[6][7] The rhizomes of basket ferns are creeping and densely covered in brown scales.

Habitat and distribution

Basket ferns are epiphytic (growing on trees) or epipetric (growing on rocks). They can also sometimes be found in man-made structures like brick walls.[8] They are found in wet tropical environments, usually in rainforests.[3] Their native range extends from equatorial Africa to tropical South and East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Oceania.[9]

Life cycle
The "Drynaria" type prothallial germination.

Like other spore-bearing plants, Aglaomorpha exhibits metagenesis or the alternation of generations. One generation being the diploid multicellular sporophyte (the phase where the plant is most familiar), and the other being the haploid multicellular gametophyte (the phase where the plant is known as a prothallus). Gametophytes develop from spores released by mature sporophytes; while sporophytes, in turn, develop from the fusion of gametes produced by mature prothalli.[8][10]

The synonym Drynaria lends its name to a certain type of prothallial germination, the 'Drynaria type', observed in several other ferns. In this type, the spores germinate into a germ filament composed of barrel-shaped chlorophyllous cells with one or more rhizoids at the base cell. The tipmost cell divides repeatedly by cross-walls, forming a broad spatulate (spoon-shaped) prothallial plate. One of the cells at the top margin of the prothallus then divides obliquely when it has 5, 10, or more cells across its width. This results in an obconical meristematic cell. Division by this type of cell is parallel to each other and perpendicular to the rest of the cells, forming rows. This eventually results in the formation of a notch at the anterior edge of the prothallus, giving it a roughly heart-shaped appearance (cordate).[11]

The cordate prothallus are usually smaller with thinner midribs than that of other members of Polypodiaceae. They are also usually more sparsely haired, with some prothalli rarely having multicellular hair. They mature after six to nine months, and finish their life cycle at around a year. The gametophytes produce male (antheridium), and female (archegonium) gametes. The gametes fuse, forming the diploid sporophyte, the 'fern' part of the life cycle.[8][10][11]

Aglaomorpha also naturally exhibits apospory, the production of a gametophyte not from spores, but directly from the vegetative cells of the sporophytes. Their leaves can develop prothalli under dim light and sporophytic buds in strong light.[12]

Ecology
Amethystine pythons (Morelia amethistina) of Australia commonly seek shelter in Aglaomorpha rigidula
Ants feeding on nectar secreted by the lower surface of a young Aglaomorpha quercifolia frond.

Aglaomorpha, like some other genera of ferns (including Polybotrya and Polypodium), possess specialized nectar-secreting structures (nectaries) on the bases of the frond lobes or the underside of the fronds. The produced nectar is rich in sugars and amino acids.[13]

Their function may be to attract ants (or other organisms) for protection or for spore dispersal. They may also be simply excretory organs (hydathodes), used for exuding surplus metabolic products.[13] The ant species Iridomyrmex cordatus is commonly associated with A. quercifolia, in addition to other epiphytic plants.[14]

In Australia, Aglaomorpha rigidula serve as shelter for amethystine pythons (Morelia amethistina) and scrub pythons (Morelia kinghorni).[15] As much as 81% of sightings of the snakes in one study were in large individuals of A. rigidula located about 17–40 m (56–131 ft) above the ground. Snakes seek shelter in A. rigidula more frequently during the colder seasons.[16]

In the 19th century, Indigenous Australians were documented by the Norwegian explorer Carl Sofus Lumholtz to have hunted pythons regularly during the winter months by climbing up to individuals of A. rigidula.[17] The large rhizome mass of Aglaomorpha can also serve as growing substrates for other plants like the ribbon fern (Ophioglossum pendulum).[18] Due to their ability to preserve moisture and persistence even after death, the nest leaves of Aglaomorpha are also fertile hosts to a large number of water-borne fungi.[19]

Classification

Basket ferns are classified under the subfamily Drynarioideae of the family Polypodiaceae.[1] Species belonging to Aglaomorpha were once classified under the genus Polypodium (rockcap ferns), under the subgenus Aglaomorpha.[20][21]

Species

The following is the list of accepted species according to the Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World as of August 2019:[22]

  • Aglaomorpha baronii (Diels) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha bonii (Christ) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha brooksii Copel.
  • Aglaomorpha cornucopia (Copel.) M. C. Roos
  • Aglaomorpha coronans (Wall. ex Mett.) Copel.
  • Aglaomorpha delavayi (Christ) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha descensa (Copel.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha drynarioides (Hook.) M. C. Roos
  • Aglaomorpha × dumicola (Bostock) comb. ined.
  • Aglaomorpha fortunei (Kunze ex Mett.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha heraclea (Kunze) Copel.
  • Aglaomorpha hieronymi (Brause) Copel.
  • Aglaomorpha involuta (Alderw.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha latipinna (C. Chr.) M. C. Roos
  • Aglaomorpha laurentii (Christ ex De Wild. & Durand) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha meeboldii (Rosenst.) comb. ined.
  • Aglaomorpha meyeniana Schott
  • Aglaomorpha mollis (Bedd.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha nectarifera (Becc. ex Baker) M. C. Roos
  • Aglaomorpha novoguineensis (Brause) C. Chr.
  • Aglaomorpha parishii (Bedd.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha parkinsonii (Baker) Parris & M. C. Roos
  • Aglaomorpha pilosa (J. Sm. ex Kunze) Copel.
  • Aglaomorpha pleuridioides (Mett.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha propinqua (Wall. ex Mett.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha quercifolia (L.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha rigidula (Sw.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha sagitta (Christ) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha sparsisora (Desv.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha speciosa (Blume) M. C. Roos
  • Aglaomorpha splendens (J. Sm.) Copel.
  • Aglaomorpha tricuspis (Hook.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha volkensii (Hieron.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.
  • Aglaomorpha willdenowii (Bory) Hovenkamp & S. Linds.

Traditional medicine

Extracts from the rhizomes of some Aglaomorpha species are used extensively in traditional medicine.[23][24] In China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos, the rhizomes of gu-sui-bu, Aglaomorpha fortunei (more frequently cited by Asian authors by its illegitimate synonym Drynaria fortunei),[25] are commonly used to treat bone injuries.[8][26] Its common name literally means "mender of shattered bones" in Chinese.[27] Another species, the oak-leaf fern (Aglaomorpha quercifolia) is used similarly in South Asia and Maritime Southeast Asia.[10][28]

Conservation
A basket fern in Ravensbourne National Park, Australia

Species of Aglaomorpha commonly used in traditional medicine like A. roosii and A. quercifolia are in danger of being overexploited. None of the species are currently cultivated for the alternative medicine industry.[8][10]

Aglaomorpha are also considered endangered in some areas (like in New South Wales, Australia), due to threats of habitat loss and low population numbers.[10][29]

Evolution and fossil record

Fossil species have not been transferred to Aglaomorpha in PPG I, and are still recorded in the genus Drynaria. In 2010, twelve well-preserved fossil specimens were described from the Sanying Formation of the Yangjie coal mine of China. Named Drynaria callispora, it comes from the Piacenzian age of the Pliocene epoch (about 3.6 to 2.5 million years ago).[30]

The fossil record of drynarioids is not very well documented due to the typically poor preservation of fossils recovered. Previous fossil species assigned to Drynaria include Drynaria astrostigma, D. dura, and D. tumulosa from the Cenomanian of the Czech Republic; and D. durum, all assigned tentatively to the genus in 1899. The arrangement and type of their sori, however, indicate that they are members of the family Matoniaceae instead.[30]

Outside the genus, Protodrynaria takhtajani from the Eocene-Oligocene boundary of Kursk Oblast, Russia shows some affinities to Drynaria but only distantly. The only other reasonably convincing fossil remains of drynarioids aside from D. callispora was a specimen named Polypodium quercifolia recovered in 1985 from the Late Miocene (23.03 to 5.332 million years ago) of Palembang, Indonesia. These were later transferred to the living species Aglaomorpha heraclea. It remains, as of 2011, the oldest known drynarioid.[31][30]

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See also

References
  1. PPG I (2016). "A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns". Journal of Systematics and Evolution. 54 (6): 563–603. doi:10.1111/jse.12229.
  2. "Aglaomorpha Schott". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
  3. Russell Cumming; Jan Sked (August 21, 2006). "Drynaria & Platycerium: Interesting Fern Genera". Society for Growing Australian Plants. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  4. Frederick Garrett Dickason (1946). "The Ferns of Burma" (PDF). The Ohio Journal of Science. 46 (3): 109–141. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  5. Cliver Jermy; Roger Chapman (2002). Tropical Forest Expeditions (PDF). RGS-IBG Expedition Advisory Centre, Royal Geographical Society. p. 15. ISBN 0-907649-84-X.
  6. William Jackson Hooker (1862). Garden ferns; or, Coloured figures and descriptions of a selection of exotic ferns adapted for cultivation in the garden. Illustrated by Walter Hood Fitch. p. 5.
  7. Robert Lee Riffle (1998). The tropical look: an encyclopedia of dramatic landscape plants. Timber Press. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-88192-422-0.
  8. H.C. Chang; D.C. Agrawal; C.L. Kuo; J.L. Wen; C.C. Chen; H.S. Tsay (2007). "In Vitro Culture of Drynaria fortunei, a Fern Species Source of Chinese Medicine "Gu-Sui-Bu"". In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Plant. Springer. 43 (2): 133–139. doi:10.1007/s11627-007-9037-6. ISSN 1475-2689.
  9. "Drynaria (Bory) J.Sm". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  10. P.B. Mazumder; Bonani Mazumder; M. Dutta Choudhury; G.D. Sharma (2011). "In Vitro Propagation of Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Sm., a Medicinal Fern". Assam University Journal of Science & Technology: Biological and Environmental Sciences. Assam University. 7 (1): 79–83. ISSN 0975-2773. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  11. B. K. Nayar; S. Kaur (1971). "Gametophytes of Homosporous Ferns" (PDF). The Botanical Review. The New York Botanical Garden. 37 (3): 295–396. doi:10.1007/bf02859157. ISSN 0006-8101. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  12. "The Opening Face of Vascular Plants: Pteridophyta". Competition Science Vision. Pratiyogita Darpan. 10 (113): 650–661. 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  13. Suzanne Koptur; Alan R. Smith; Irene Baker (1982). "Nectaries in Some Neotropical Species of Polypodium (Polypodiaceae): Preliminary Observations and Analyses" (PDF). Biotropica. Association for Tropical Biology. 14 (2): 108–113. doi:10.2307/2387739. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 6, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  14. Victor Rico-Gray; Paulo S. Oliveria (2007). The Ecology and Evolution of Ant-Plant Interactions. Interspecific Interactions. The University of Chicago Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-226-71348-9.
  15. Jason Cummings; Michelle Martin; Anne Rogers (2006). "Quantifying the abundance of four large epiphytic fern species in remnant complex notophyll vine forest on the Atherton Tableland, north Queensland, Australia" (PDF). Cunninghamia. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney & the National Herbarium of New South Wales. 9 (4): 521–527. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 29, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  16. Alastair Freeman; Amanda Freeman (2009). "Habitat Use in a Large Rainforest Python (Morelia kinghorni) in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland, Australia" (PDF). Herpetological Conservation and Biology. Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 4 (2): 252–260. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  17. Alastair Freeman; Amanda Freeman (2007). "Giants in the Rainforest: A Radiotelemetry Study of the Amethystine Python in North Queensland, Australia" (PDF). Iguana. International Reptile Conservation Foundation. 14 (4): 215–221. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  18. Elvianna Dorante-Day. "Ferns and Fern Allies". Bush Medicine Woman. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  19. Kishore Karamchand; Kandikerere R. Sridhar (2009). "Association of water-borne conidial fungi with epiphytic tree fern (Drynaria quercifolia)" (PDF). Acta Mycologica. Swiss Association for International Cooperation. 44 (1): 19–27. doi:10.5586/am.2009.004. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  20. Michael Hassler; Brian Swale. "Family Drynariaceae, genus Drynaria; world species list". Checklist of World Ferns. Archived from the original on October 17, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  21. D. J. Mabberley (2008). Mabberley's plant-book: a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Cambridge University Press. p. 690. ISBN 978-0-521-82071-4.
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  27. Christopher Hobbs; Kathi Keville (2007). Women's Herbs, Women's Health. Book Publishing Company. p. 287. ISBN 978-1-57067-152-4.
  28. Godofredo Stuart. "Pakpak lawin: Drynaria quercifolia Linn". Philippine Medicinal Plants. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  29. NSW Scientific Committee (October 4, 1998). "Drynaria rigidula (a fern) – endangered species listing". Office of Environment & Heritage, NSW Government. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  30. Tao Su; Frédéric M.B. Jacques; Yu-Sheng (Christopher) Liu; Jianying Xiang; Yaowu Xing; Yongjiang Huang & Zhekun Zhou (2010). "A new Drynaria (Polypodiaceae) from the Upper Pliocene of Southwest China" (PDF). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. Elsevier. 164 (2011): 521–527. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2010.11.011. ISSN 0034-6667. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  31. Thomas Janssen; Hans-Peter Kreier; Harald Schneider (2007). "Origin and diversification of African ferns with special emphasis on Polypodiaceae" (PDF). Brittonia. The New York Botanical Garden Press. 59 (2): 159–181. doi:10.1663/0007-196x(2007)59[159:oadoaf]2.0.co;2. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 19, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
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