Marattia fraxinea Sm., Pl. Icon. Ined. 2: t. 48 1790. (syn: Marattia cuneiformis de Vriese; Marattia fraxinea Smith (ambiguous synonym); Marattia macrophylla de Vriese; Marattia microcarpa Mett. ex Ettingsh.; Marattia oppositifolia Sm.; Marattia sorbifolia (Bory) Sw. (ambiguous synonym); Myriotheca fraxinea (Sm.) Poir.; Myriotheca fraxinifolia Bory; Myriotheca sorbifolia Bory; Ptisana microcarpa (Mett. ex Ettingsh.) Murdock);
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SW. India as per POWO (Ptisana fraxinea (Sm.) Murdock);
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Terrestrial herbs with erect, massive rhizome, 30 x 30 cm. Fronds 120-250 x 130-150 cm, bipinnate, deltoid in outline; stipe 100-130 cm long, thick, scaly and hairy; pinnae 50-60 x 18-22 cm, elliptic-oblong, acuminate; pinnules 9 x 1.5 cm, oblong, acuminate, cuneate at base, serrate along the margins, coriaceous; costa raised above and below, veins indistinct above, distinct below, at right angle to costa, rarely forked. Synangia 1.5 x 0.5 mm, dark brown, on veins, submarginal. Spores 22-25 mm in diameter, globose, smooth.

Wet or marshy areas in evergreen forests
Tropics and subtropics of the World
(Attributions- K. P. Rajesh as per India Biodiversity Portal)
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Marattia SN20420a : 5 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (1) – 4 mb.
Marattia fraxinia Sm.
Wild stout fern with bipinnate large leaves from Western Ghats Tamilnadu.


I need to see a close-up of a few sori. Can you post that?


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Pl find the close up image.
Attachments (1)  – 3 mb


I think the sori are rather young – but I guess that that’s OK.
Incidentally it is pretty rare, now, I gather – and I only saw it in Father Manickam’s garden outside Kodaikanal, which is still maintained.


 

 


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References:
POWO (Ptisana fraxinea (Sm.) Murdock) Catalogue of Life  The Plant List Ver.1.1  Tropicos  IPNI  GBIF (High resolution specimens) POWO  India Biodiversity Portal  Flora of peninsular India  Central African Plants – A Photo Guide