Pteridophyta: Osmundales

Osmundaceae - Royal fern family

Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.

Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca

Description of the family

Terrestrial perrenial ferns with rhizomes erect or procumbent, enclosed by a mass of persistent stipe-bases and roots. Stipe winged at the base, cylindrical higher up. Fronds numerous, tufted, perennial or deciduous, 2-pinnate or deeply 2-3-pinnatifid. Sporangia large, borne either on both surfaces of narrow fertile pinnules or on the under surface of undifferentiated pinnae.

Worldwide: 4 genera and 20 species worldwide, occurring in both tropical and temperate regions

Malawi: 1 genus and 1 taxon.

Links to genera: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Osmunda L.	Description, Image

Other sources of information about Osmundaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Osmundaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Osmundaceae
Flora of Zambia: Osmundaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Osmundaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Osmundaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Osmundaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Osmundaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Osmundaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Osmundaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Osmundaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Osmundaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Osmundaceae
Wikipedia: Osmundaceae
Plants of the World Online: Osmundaceae
Tropicos: Osmundaceae