Hay Rake Fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hay Rake Fern
• false staghorn fern
• Old World forkedfern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gleichenia linearis

Regional and Traditional Names

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 categorized under the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Gleicheniales. Finally, it is a member of the family Gleicheniaceae and falls under the genus Dicranopteris.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found across several nations within the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its natural habitat includes the coastal and inland areas of Ghana and Guinea. It also thrives within the tropical landscapes of the Ivory Coast and Liberia. Furthermore, the distribution extends into the diverse ecosystems found in Nigeria. Together, these locations define the primary geographical range for Dicranopteris linearis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dicranopteris linearis is characterized by its presence across a diverse range of landscapes, spanning from lowlands to high-altitude environments. It inhabits an elevational range starting at 50 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, thriving in various habitats including anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), high-altitude fields (Campo de Altitude), open fields (Campo Limpo), and rocky outcrop vegetation (Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos). Furthermore, it is integrated into the broader Cerrado biome (Cerrado latu sensu) and the specialized rupestrian field ecosystems (Campo Rupestre).

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

50 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo de Altitude, Campo Limpo, Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos

Life history

The life history of Dicranopteris linearis is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, ensuring its survival through multiple growing seasons. As a member of the cryptophyte life form, it possesses specialized underground or surface-level structures that allow it to persist in its environment. Its biological structure is further classified as a phanerophyte, reflecting its growth habit. In terms of foliage retention, the species is evergreen, maintaining its greenery throughout the year rather than undergoing seasonal shedding.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dicranopteris linearis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a terrestrial species, meaning it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. It functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite and is self-supporting in its structure rather than acting as a liana or vine. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant typically reaches a mean height of 1 meter, though its size can vary significantly, with a minimum height of 0 meters and a maximum height of up to 2 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dicranopteris linearis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Morphologically, the plant features highly elongated and narrow leaves, with a length ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 82 cm, and a very slender width that varies between 0.3 cm and 0.5 cm. It does not exhibit succulence, meaning its tissues lack the specialized water-storage capacity found in succulent species, and it is not a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nitrogen sources for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

82 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dicranopteris linearis is characterized by specific morphological and ecological strategies centered on its reproductive structures and seed dispersal mechanisms. The plant produces a fruit classified as a nut, which remains indehiscent, meaning it does not spontaneously split open at maturity to release its contents. The dissemination of its reproductive units is primarily driven by an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing wind as the principal medium to transport seeds away from the parent plant. This anemochorous strategy is consistently identified across its dispersal profiles, ensuring that the species can effectively colonize new habitats through aerial movement.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit type :

nut

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dicranopteris linearis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Activities

Dicranopteris linearis has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antinociceptive.

Antibacterial

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Antinociceptive

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Conditions

Dicranopteris linearis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidiabetic.

Antidiabetic

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)