flat-stemmed whisk fern

Psilotum complanatum

Summary 3

Psilotum complanatum (Flatfork Fern) is a rare herbaceous epiphytic fern ally in the genus Psilotum. There is some evidence that it might be a true fern that has lost some typically fern-like characteristics. Morphologically, the plant is simple, lacking leaves and roots, and having hanging stems with dichotomous branching, which lack developed leaves but have minute scales. The stems and branches have protostele, with a triangular-shaped core of xylem. The scales are arranged in two rows...

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/services/media.php?env=botany&irn=10238512
  2. (c) BlueRidgeKitties, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/41380738@N05/4061200180
  3. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilotum_complanatum

More Info

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