Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Isoetes coromandelina


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Herbarium specimen. © Queensland Herbarium
Family

Isoetaceae

Botanical name

Isoetes coromandelina L.f.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/64358

Description

Amphibious herb; corm 3–5-lobed, to 15 mm wide. Leaves 15–60, spirally arranged, 15–80 cm long, 2–3 mm diam., flexible, attenuate, bright green; base to 20 mm wide, broadly winged, white; peripheral fibre strands present with 4 major strands; stomata and internal hairs present; trans-lacunar diaphragms visible; ligule triangular, 2–3 mm long; labium large, 2–3 mm wide, obscuring most of ligule. Heterosporous, sporangia round to obovate, 7–12 mm long, 5–7 mm wide, translucent, non-pigmented; velum absent. Microspores not seen. Megaspores globose, 0.3–0.4 mm diam.; proximal faces usually with one very large tubercle; distal face with numerous large tubercles, drying white. 

Distribution

Occurs on Cape York Peninsula QLD and northern NT. Also widespread in Asia and Malesia.

Habit and habitat

Amphibious in swamps or swamp margins in open woodlands or grassland.

Citation of Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes

Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/intro/index.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).

Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) ‘Platycerium superbum’, in Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/entities/platycerium_superbum.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).

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