Aspleniaceae
Thelypteris

Thelypteris opulenta (Kaulf.) Fosberg

First published in Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 8: 3 (1972)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Kenya to Mozambique, W. Indian Ocean, Hainan to Tropical Asia and Pacific. It grows primarily in the wet tropical biome. It is used as a medicine and for food.

Descriptions

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Guiana Shield, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–500 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Caquetá, Cauca, Chocó, Meta, Nariño, Putumayo, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.
Habit
Herb.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, artificial - terrestrial.
[UPFC]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Colombia
[CPLC]

Thelypteridaceae, Bernard Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2006

Type
Type: Guam, Chamisso s.n. (LE, holo.)
Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes
Rhizome erect or short-creeping, branched, with dark brown attenuate minutely ciliate scales ± 9 mm long
Morphology Leaves
Fronds tufted, 0.9–0.5 m tall
Morphology Leaves Stipes
Stipe 40–70 cm long, minutely pubescent and with scales at base
Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina
Lamina broadly oblong-ovate, 0.8–1 m long, 60 cm wide, bipinnatifid, the basal pinnae not or rarely reduced; largest pinnae narrowly oblong, 25–35(–40) cm long, 2.5–2.9(–3.5) cm wide, acuminate, hairy above on costa, with short hairs and yellow glands beneath (particularly along veins), deeply lobed; lobes narrowly oblong, oblique, slightly falcate, 1.2 cm long, 4–5 mm wide; veins 8–10 pairs, the basal pair passing to sides of sinus-membrane or connivent or uniting below it forming a short excurrent vein
Morphology Reproductive morphology Sori
Sori coalescing to form lines parallel to lobe margins; indusia with small yellow glands on edges and often hairy (in extra-African material)
Figures
Fig 11, p 36
Ecology
Evergreen forest on slopes, streamside in deep shade, Pandanus swamp with numerous calcareous outcrops; near sea level–950m
Distribution
Flora districts: K7 T3 T6 T7 P Range: Mozambique;Chagos Archipelago, Seychelles, tropical Asia and Malesia to N Queensland, eastwards to the Society Is. and Marquesas
[FTEA]

Uses

Use Food
Used for food.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
[UPFC]

Sources

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0