Thelypteris parasitica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cyclosorus kweichowensis
• Christella parasitica
• Cyclosorus brevipes
• Cyclosorus damingshanensis
• Nephrodium procurrens
• Cyclosorus orientalis
• Cyclosorus multisorus
• Dryopteris procurrens
• Lastrea pellita
• Nephrodium parasiticum
• Nephrodium pellitum
• Cyclosorus pauciserratus
• Cyclosorus yandongensis
• Cyclosorus didymosorus
• Cyclosorus hainanensis
• Cyclosorus laui
• Thelypteris benguetensis
• Thelypteris albociliata
• Thelypteris didymosora
• Thelypteris fadenii
• Thelypteris griffithiana
• Nephrodium griffithianum
• Dryopteris albociliata
• Cyclosorus albociliatus
• Cyclosorus benguetensis
• Cyclosorus procurrens
• Aspidium molle var. didymosorus
• Cyclosorus aureoglandulosus
• Cyclosorus parasiticus
• Thelypteris aureoglandulosa
• Thelypteris hattivattiorum
• Thelypteris pauciserrata
• Thelypteris brevipes
• Aspidium parasiticum var. didymosorum
• Cyclosorus griffithianus
• Dryopteris parasitica var. marquesensis
• Dryopteris parasitica var. pitcairnensis
• Dryopteris parasitica var. rapensis
• Dryopteris parasitica var. mangarevensis
• Dryopteris didymosora
• Dryopteris parasitica
• Dryopteris parasitica var. didymosora
• Nephrodium molle var. didymosorum
• Aspidium parasiticum
• Thelypteris procurrens
• Thelypteris parasitica var. formosanus
• Dryopteris parasitica var. procurrens
• Thelypteris orientalis
• Cyclosorus parasiticus var. formosanus
• Cyclosorus xunwuensis
• Dryopteris eriochlamys
• Dryopteris procurrens var. minor
• Polypodium diversifrons
• Nephrodium tectum
• Filix parasitica
• Cyclosorus rupicola
• Cyclosorus excelsior
• Nephrodium didymosorum
• Aspidium procurrens

Sources: Wikidata

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 Aspleniaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Thelypteris.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents and ocean islands. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range extends to East Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Uganda. Moving toward the Middle Atlantic Ocean, the species is also present on the island of St. Helena. Finally, in Asia, its distribution includes South-Central China as well as the island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Thelypteris parasitica is characterized by its preference for specific environmental niches, most notably within dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation. This fern thrives in disturbed landscapes where opportunistic plant growth is prevalent, often colonizing areas that have undergone significant ecological shifts. Furthermore, its distribution is closely linked to the underlying geological composition of its environment, as it is specifically associated with limestone bedrock. This preference for calcareous substrates suggests that the plant plays a specialized role in the nutrient cycling and community structure of limestone-based ruderal habitats.

Bedrock :

limestone

Habitat :

dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Thelypteris parasitica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a perennial species, it maintains long-term vegetative presence, often utilizing rhizomatous structures to survive periods of dormancy and to facilitate clonal expansion within its habitat. This enduring life strategy enables the plant to establish stable populations, repeatedly undergoing seasonal cycles of frond development and spore production to ensure continued propagation and survival in its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Thelypteris parasitica is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, specifically classified as a forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing tendencies such as a liana or vine, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. Its habitat ranges across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments, though it remains an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant's structure is defined by its soft, non-woody tissues, consistent with its status as a terrestrial herb.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Thelypteris parasitica is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism among many fern species where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle. This metabolic process involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells. Furthermore, the plant does not exhibit succulence, lacking the specialized parenchymatous tissues required for significant water storage in its leaves or stems. Consequently, its physiological management of water and nutrient uptake is geared toward typical pteridophyte functions rather than the specialized water-conservation strategies found in succulent taxa.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Thelypteris parasitica is driven by an alternation of generations characteristic of ferns, involving a spore-producing sporophyte and a gametophyte stage. The process begins when the sporophyte releases microscopic spores from specialized structures called sori located on the underside of the fronds. These spores are primarily characterized by an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning they are adapted to be carried effectively by wind currents to colonize new habitats. However, the reproductive spread of this species can also exhibit traits associated with other mechanisms, including autochorous movements, anthropochorous dispersal via human activity, and unspecialized zoochorous patterns where spores may inadvertently adhere to or be moved by animals. Once a spore lands in a suitable moist environment, it germinates into a prothallus, which produces the gametes necessary for fertilization, ultimately leading to the development of a new sporophyte.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Thelypteris parasitica 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. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Chemicals

Thelypteris parasitica has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, Tannins, Terpenoids.

Flavonoids

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Saponins

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Tannins

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Terpenoids

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Preparations

Thelypteris parasitica has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaves, methanol-water extract.

Leaves

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Methanol-water extract

1. PloS one