LECANOPTERIS SPINOSA

This member of the Polypodiaceae family was given this name by Anthony Clive Jermy and Trevor George Walker in 1975. It is found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, growing as an epiphyte with lots of water and some sun. The cluster of an caudex can grow to 25 centimetres in diameter, the entire plant from 20 to 30 centimetres in height. The spores are brownish-yellow.

The genera name after some Lecan, but I fail to figure which one, or perhaps Greek lekane; 'bowl', and Latin pteris; 'fern'. The genera name Lecanopteris was introduced by Caspar Georg Reinwardt published in Flora 8, 1825. The species is named for the many spines on the caudex. Photo by Andreas Wistuba, Flickr.com.