Osmunda L.

Details

Name scientific

Osmunda L., Sp. Pl. 1063 (1753)

Preferred name

Osmunda L.

Taxonomy reference

Kramer, K.U.; Green, P.S. 1990: Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Kubitzki, K. (ed.) The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. 1. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

Linked name

Osmunda L. 1753

Biostatus

Origin

Occurrence

Georegion

Schema

Biostatus source

Comment

Exotic

Wild

New Zealand

Political Region

Nomenclature

Authors

Original authors

Publication place

Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.

Year published

1753

Publication page

1063

Nomenclatural code

ICN

Basionym

Osmunda L.

Type taxon

Osmunda regalis L.

Taxonomic rank

genus

Canonical form

Osmunda

Etymology

Derivation unclear, but an old English name either for Osmund the ferryman, who saved the lives of his wife and daughter by hiding them amongst these ferns (Field 1890), or for Osmunder, the Anglo-Saxon god of thunder, equivalent to the Norse god Thor (Gledhill 2008), or King Osmund who reigned over the South Saxons about 785 AD (Burrows 1990 – see under Osmunda regalis).

Classification

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Polypodiopsida

Order

Osmundales

Family

Osmundaceae

Genus

Osmunda

Subordinates

Descriptions

Webb, C.J.; Sykes, W.R.; Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. Botany Division DSIR, Christchurch.

Osmunda L.

Description

Terrestrial ferns. Rhizomes thick, erect, covered with persistent stipe bases. Fronds 1-2-pinnate, covered with hairs when very young, wholly or partially dimorphic; veins free. Sporangia in dense clusters, replacing the lamina of some or all the pinnae on fertile fronds. Spores trilete.