Classification
Class
Polypodiopsida
Subclass
Polypodiidae
Order
Polypodiales Link
Family
Lindsaeaceae C.Presl ex M.R.Schomb.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Odontosoria Fée, Mém. Foug., 5. Gen. Filic. 271 (1852)
Type Taxon:
Odontosoria uncinella (Kunze) Fée
Etymology:
From the Greek odonto- (toothed), and soros (sorus), a reference to the appearance of the sori.
 Description

Terrestrial ferns. Rhizomes short- to long-creeping, scaly. Rhizome scales non-clathrate, narrowly ovate or trichome-like. Fronds monomorphic. Stipes pale brown, glabrous. Laminae 2–4-pinnate, herbaceous or coriaceous, glabrous. Veins free. Sori oblong or slightly extended laterally, superficial, marginal or submarginal; paraphyses present. Indusia always present, attached at base and sides, opening towards the margin. Spores monolete or trilete, perispores smooth or granulate.

 Taxonomy

As circumscribed by Lehtonen et al. (2010), Odontosoria includes many species that were previously treated in Sphenomeris. It remains poorly defined morphologically, albeit genetically distinct from the other genera of Lindsaeaceae.

 Recognition

In New Zealand, Odontosoria can be distinguished from species of Lindsaea by its pale brown stipes, 3–4-pinnate laminae, and sori that are usually oblong. Species of Lindsaea have red-brown stipes, 1–3-pinnate-pinnatifid laminae, and sori that often curve around the lamina margins.

 Distribution

A pantropical genus of more than 20 species (Kramer 1990; Lehtonen et al. 2010), with 12 in the Neotropics and the remainder in the Old World tropics and Pacific islands. Absent from Australia (Kramer 1990). One species casual in New Zealand.

 Biostatus
Exotic
Number of species in New Zealand within Odontosoria Fée
CategoryNumber
Exotic: Casual1
Total1
 Bibliography
Brownsey, P.J.; Perrie, L.R. 2017: Lindsaeaceae. In: Breitwieser, I.; Wilton, A.D. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle 17. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Christenhusz, M.J.M.; Zhang, X.-C.; Schneider, H. 2011: A linear sequence of extant families and genera of lycophytes and ferns. Phytotaxa 19: 7–54.
Fée, A.L.A. 1852: Mémoires sur les familles des fougères. 5. Genera Filicum. Baillière, Paris.
Kramer, K.U. 1990: Dennstaedtiaceae. In: Kramer, K.U.; Green, P.S. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Vol. 1. In: Kubitzki, K. (ed.) The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Lehtonen, S.; Tuomisto, H.; Rouhan, G.; Christenhusz, M.J.M 2010: Phylogenetics and classification of the pantropical fern family Lindsaeaceae. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 163: 305–359.
Smith, A.R.; Pryer, K.M.; Schuettpelz, E.; Korall, P.; Schneider, H.; Wolf, P.G. 2006: A classification for extant ferns. Taxon 55(3): 705–731.
Steele, R.; Lowe, M. 2002–2006: Index. Subtropicals Index: 1–12.