Bolbitis

Scientific name

Bolbitis Schott

Family

Dryopteridaceae

Similar genera

Acrostichum, Blechnum, Microsorum

Native distribution

Africa, Asia

Species cultivated

Bolbitis heteroclita (C. Presl) Ching

B. heudelotii (Bory ex F&e acuteacute:
(adj) tapering to a sharp, pointed apex with more or less straight sides; broader than acuminate; forming an angle of less than 90 degrees
;e) Alston

Adventive distribution

none

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

amphibiousamphibious:
(adj) of a plant able to live on land or in water
, creeping, seasonally submergedsubmerged:
(adj) (syn. submersed) under water; submerged below the water surface

Brief description

Perennialperennial:
(adj) (of a plant) having a life cycle of more than two years
fern. Creeping, irregularly branching rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
, covered in dense mat of brown scales; roots numerous. Leaves alternatealternate:
(adj) (of leaves) bearing one leaf per node; placed singly on the stem at different heights
at regularregular:
(adj) uniform in shape or structure; radially symmetrical and parts similar in size and arrangement
intervals along rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
, erect, petiolatepetiolate:
(adj) relating to or in the form of a petiole; bearing petioles
; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
shape variable depending on emersedemersed:
see emergent
or submersedsubmersed:
see submerged
form and light levels, 1-pinnate to pinnatifidpinnatifid:
(adj) (of leaves) deeply pinnately lobed half way or more, but not reaching the midrib
; marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
commonly serrateserrate:
(adj) (of a leaf margin) bearing sharp teeth pointing forward or to the apex
. Emersedemersed:
see emergent
, fertilefertile:
(adj) producing viable seed, spores, or pollen; capable of reproducing
leaflets linear, with numerous sporangiasporangium:
(n) (pl. sporangia) a unicellular or multicellular sac or structure that produces spores
on abaxialabaxial:
(adj) the side facing away from the axis, as in the underside of a leaf
surface. Dispersal by spores or stem fragments. Adventitiousadventitious:
(adj) of an organ growing where it is not normally expected, e.g., roots growing from a stem
daughter plantlets develop on leaf tips under conditions of high humidity.

Natural habitat

in either shade or full sun; commonly growing on rocks and logs

Additional comments

Bolbitis is a large genus containing 56 species, but only four are considered aquatic or amphibiousamphibious:
(adj) of a plant able to live on land or in water
. Two species are cultivated for aquaria or terrariums.