Fan-Leaved Fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Fan-Leaved Fern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Actiniopteris australis var. radiata
• Acropteris dichotoma
• Acropteris radiata
• Acrostichum radiatum
• Asplenium polydactylon
• Asplenium radiatum
• Blechnum flabellatum
• Blechnum radiatum
• Pteris radiata
• Actiniopteris dichotoma

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Polypodiales, falling under the family Pteridaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Actiniopteris.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of Africa and its surrounding islands. Within the Macaronesian archipelago, it can be found specifically in Cape Verde. Its range extends into West Tropical Africa, where it inhabits the countries of Mali, Nigeria, and Togo. Furthermore, the species is present in West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically located in Cameroon. Together, these locations highlight the plant's presence across diverse ecological zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Actinopteris radiata is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse range of altitudinal gradients within its native habitat. This plant thrives across a broad vertical distribution, establishing itself in environments ranging from low-lying areas at an elevation of 200 m AMSL to higher montane regions reaching up to a maximum of 1600 m AMSL. This significant elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the species to adapt to varying temperature regimes, moisture availability, and atmospheric pressures found between these two extremes.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Actiniopteris radiata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a cryptophyte, utilizing specialized structures to protect its vital organs during unfavorable conditions. Specifically, its life form is classified as a geophyte, meaning it relies on underground storage organs to survive and regenerate, ensuring its continued presence within its ecological niche.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Actinopteris radiata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a herb and a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species that does not exhibit climbing behavior and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is a terrestrial plant, occurring in non-aquatic environments, and is not an epiphyte. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant is relatively small, with a minimum height of 0.15 m, a maximum height of 0.18 m, and an average height of approximately 0.1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.18 m

Plant height mean:

0.1 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Actinopteris radiata is characterized by specialized metabolic processes adapted to its specific environmental niche, though it does not exhibit the capacity for symbiotic or free-living atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Regarding its nutrient acquisition, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the biological machinery, such as the production of nitrogenase enzymes or the formation of root nodules associated with diazotrophic bacteria, to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms like ammonia. Instead, its physiological nitrogen economy relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium ions dissolved in the soil solution through its root system. Its metabolic pathways are geared toward carbon assimilation via photosynthesis, utilizing light energy to drive the synthesis of organic compounds, while its mineral transport systems focus on the regulated absorption of essential macronutrients and micronutrients from its immediate substrate to support cellular growth and structural integrity.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Actiniopteris radiata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, RUTIN.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

RUTIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Actiniopteris radiata has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antistress.

Antistress

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Preparations

Actiniopteris radiata has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract, ethanolic extract of Actiniopteris radiata, ethyl acetate, methanol, petroleum ether.

Ethanol extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Ethanolic extract of actiniopteris radiata

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethyl acetate

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Methanol

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Petroleum ether

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences