felt fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• felt fern
• pyrrosia
• tongue fern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Polycampium lingua
• Niphobolus lingua
• Cyclophorus lingua
• Cyclophorus lingua var. attenuata
• Cyclophorus lingua var. angustifrons
• Cyclophorus taiwanensis
• Cyclophorus bodinieri
• Cyclophorus martini
• Niphobolus martini
• Niphobolus sinensis
• Polypodium taiwanense
• Pyrrosia caudifrons
• Pyrrosia martini
• Pyrrosia medogensis
• Craspedaria chinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Polypodiales, falling into the family Polypodiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Pyrrosia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across various regions of China. Its presence is noted within the South-Central part of the country. Furthermore, it can be found growing in the tropical environment of Hainan. The species is also distributed throughout the northern reaches of Manchuria. Finally, its geographical reach extends into both the North-Central and Southeast regions of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Pyrrosia lingua is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a creeping epiphytic fern, its development is defined by a slow-growing rhizome that traverses the substrate, establishing a stable and continuous presence within its habitat. This perennial nature enables the plant to endure fluctuations in environmental conditions, gradually expanding its network of scales and roots to secure moisture and nutrients. Over time, the plant undergoes repeated cycles of vegetative expansion and reproductive development, often producing spores that facilitate further colonization of the surrounding ecosystem.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pyrrosia lingua is characterized by its specialized growth habit as an epiphyte, specifically functioning as an obligatory epiphyte that relies on host structures for support rather than growing terrestrially. As a climbing plant, it exhibits a self-supporting climbing mechanism, utilizing its specialized structure to anchor itself within its ecological niche. Its physical form is defined by this epiphytic lifestyle, where the vegetative body is adapted to life elevated above the ground, utilizing its climbing nature to navigate the surfaces of host plants.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

obligatory

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pyrrosia lingua has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Isomangiferin, Mangiferin.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

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

Isomangiferin

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

Mangiferin

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