''Dendroconche'' is a genus of

fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes except t ...

s in the family

Polypodiaceae Polypodiaceae is a family of ferns. In the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I), the family includes around 65 genera and an estimated 1,650 species and is placed in the order Polypodiales, suborder Polypodiineae. A broader ...

, subfamily

Microsoroideae Microsoroideae is a subfamily in the fern family Polypodiaceae in the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). The subfamily is also treated as the tribe Microsoreae within a very broadly defined family Polypodiaceae ''se ...

, erected in 2019. , the genus was not accepted by some sources.

Description

Species of ''Dendroconche'' are usually partially

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

. They grow from long, creeping

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

s that are flattened from top to bottom and bear brown scales. In some species, the rhizome may have cavities. The rhizome produces two kinds of roots: those from the sides grip the surface on which the plant grows; those from underneath enter the substrate. The leaves vary in shape from undivided to deeply divided, and are up to 70 cm long by 40 cm wide. Some species produce leaves of somewhat different shapes. The leaves may or may not have a petiole, which if present is usually winged. The leaf veins are prominent. The sori are round or elongated.

Taxonomy

The division of the subfamily Microsoroideae into genera has long been uncertain. A 2019

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

study suggested that there were three

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

s, comprising species previously mainly placed in '' Microsorum'', that were close to ''

Lecanopteris ''Lecanopteris'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Microsoroideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). They have swollen hollow rhizomes that provide homes for symbiotic ants ...

sensu stricto ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular co ...

and distinct from other clades in the subfamily. The authors of the study preferred to set up three extra

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

genera, rather than use a broader circumscription of ''Lecanopteris''. The genera are related as shown in the following cladogram. , the ''Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World'' recognized the segregate genera, including ''Dendroconche''. Other sources did not; ''

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...

'' regarded ''Dendroconche'' as a synonym of '' Microsorum''. The genus name ''Dendroconche'' is Greek-derived, from ''dendron'', meaning 'tree', and ''konchē'', meaning 'shell', apparently referring to the rounded leaves and growth habit of ''

Dendroconche annabellae ''Dendroconche annabellae'' is a species of fern in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Microsoroideae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. Description ''Dendroconche annabellae'' has a partially epiphytic habit. It grows from long, creeping ...

'', the

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

Species

, the ''Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World'' recognized the following species: *''

Dendroconche ampla ''Dendroconche'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Microsoroideae, erected in 2019. , the genus was not accepted by some sources. Description Species of ''Dendroconche'' are usually partially epiphytic. They grow from ...

'' (F.Muell. ex Benth.) Testo, Sundue & A.R.Field *''

'' (Forbes) Copel. *''

Dendroconche kingii ''Dendroconche'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Microsoroideae, erected in 2019. , the genus was not accepted by some sources. Description Species of ''Dendroconche'' are usually partially epiphytic. They grow from ...

'' Copel. *''

Dendroconche latilobata ''Dendroconche'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Microsoroideae, erected in 2019. , the genus was not accepted by some sources. Description Species of ''Dendroconche'' are usually partially epiphytic. They grow from ...

'' (Hennipman & Hett.) Testo, Sundue & A.R.Field *''

Dendroconche linguiforme ''Dendroconche'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Microsoroideae, erected in 2019. , the genus was not accepted by some sources. Description Species of ''Dendroconche'' are usually partially epiphytic. They grow from ...

'' (Mett.) Testo, Sundue & A.R.Field *''

Dendroconche sayeri ''Dendroconche'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Microsoroideae, erected in 2019. , the genus was not accepted by some sources. Description Species of ''Dendroconche'' are usually partially epiphytic. They grow from ...

'' (F.Muell. & Baker) Testo, Sundue & A.R.Field *''

Dendroconche scandens ''Dendroconche scandens'', synonym ''Microsorum scandens'', commonly called fragrant fern, is a species of fern within the family Polypodiaceae. This species is native to parts of New Zealand and Australia, as well as some offshore islands (Chat ...

'' (G.Forst.) Testo, Sundue & A.R.Field *''

Dendroconche varians ''Dendroconche'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Microsoroideae, erected in 2019. , the genus was not accepted by some sources. Description Species of ''Dendroconche'' are usually partially epiphytic. They grow from lo ...

'' (Mett.) Testo, Sundue & A.R.Field

Distribution and habitat

''Dendroconche'' species are native to eastern Australia, parts of

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

, the

Solomon Islands Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...

and New Zealand. ''D. linguiforme'' is widespread, and appears to have escaped from cultivation in India. The other species have narrow distributions. Species are found in rain forests at low to middle elevations.

References

{{taxonbar, from1=Q17187705 Polypodiaceae Fern genera