THELYPTERIDACEAE
Thelypteris kunthii
Common Name: Southern Shield Fern, Widespread Maiden Fern
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habit | frond--the fronds are very large in this species |
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frond underside showing sori (the singular form is sorus)--each of these sori contains a group of sporangia (these produce the spores). Sori are not always present on every frond, nor are they generally present at all times of the year. | fiddlehead--this is how fronds start! The whole frond is present in the fiddlehead... |
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...the fiddlehead simply needs to unravel and expand... | ...to form the fronds. Each secondary set of "frondlets" has its own mini-fiddlehead! |
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