Onoclea struthiopteris

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Matteuccia struthiopteris
• Onoclea nodulosa
• Osmunda struthiopteris
• Pteretis struthiopteris
• Struthiopteris cordi
• Struthiopteris europaea
• Struthiopteris filicastrum
• Struthiopteris germanica
• Struthiopteris heterophylla
• Pterinodes struthiopteris
• Matteuccia nodulosa
• Matteuccia struthiopteris var. acutiloba
• Matteuccia struthiopteris subsp. sinuata

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized into the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Polypodiales, falling within the family Aspleniaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identification is completed by its placement in the genus Onoclea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark. In addition to this, it is present within the territories of Finland and Norway. The species also occupies significant habitats across Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range extends to the island of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Onoclea struthiopteris is defined by its preference for moist, shaded environments, primarily manifesting in forest ecosystems and along the margins of rivers. It thrives in the damp, nutrient-rich soils typically found in riparian zones and woodland understories, where consistent moisture levels support its growth. By occupying these specific niches, the plant plays a role in stabilizing soil near watercourses and contributing to the complex structural diversity of temperate forest floors.

Habitat :

forest, rivers

Life history

The life history of Onoclea struthiopteris is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, it maintains its perennuating buds at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable conditions. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as it transitions through its seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Onoclea struthiopteris is characterized by a non-woody, self-supporting growth habit, specifically categorized as a herbaceous forb. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.9 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.9 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Onoclea struthiopteris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits significant vegetative morphology, featuring large, oblong leaves with an entire margin and a notable absence of protective structures such as thorns or spines. These leaves possess a mean surface area of approximately 1164.1529 cm², complemented by a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 282.5 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass distribution and resource allocation strategies. Furthermore, the species is strictly non-carnivorous, relying on standard nutrient uptake mechanisms rather than the capture of prey.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

oblong

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf size mean:

1164.1529 cm²

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

282.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Onoclea struthiopteris is characterized by a specialized biological cycle that relies on specific seasonal timing and environmental mechanisms. The flowering period for this species typically commences in August and concludes in September. Its pollination process is classified as an abiotic syndrome, specifically driven by the wind. Following successful pollination, the plant produces a fruit categorized under the "other" type. The subsequent dispersal of seeds follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the plant utilizes wind as the primary agent for seed dispersal. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, indicating that its reproductive strategy is strictly dependent on sexual processes.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

other

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Onoclea struthiopteris 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 rhizome.

Rhizome

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Onoclea struthiopteris has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include D-mannitol, succinic acid.

D-mannitol

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

succinic acid

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Preparations

Onoclea struthiopteris has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Matteuccia struthiopteris polysaccharides, polysaccharides extracted from Matteuccia struthiopteris, rhizome.

Matteuccia struthiopteris polysaccharides

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Polysaccharides extracted from matteuccia struthiopteris

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Rhizome

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica