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Lecanopteris celebica

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Photo by Heinz Tessner.


Found this on the foothills of Mt Soputan,
northern Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Author: Ebert Hennipman, 1987
Family:  POLYPODIACEAE
Origin:  Sulawesi; Indonesia
Soil:  No; Epiphytic
Water:  Maximum
Sun:  Minimum - Medium
Thickness:  6 Centimetres
Height:  30 Centimetres
Flower:  No, Spores
Propagate:  Spores/Rhizomes
Names:  Ant Fern
Synonyms:  -

This member of the Polypodiaceae family was given this name by Ebert Hennipman in 1987. It is found on the Indonesian island Sulawesi, growing on the branches of trees with lots of water and little to some sun. The rhizomes can grow to six centimetres in diameter, and form huge clusters. The leaves up to 30 centimetres long.

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 name as it originates from  Celebes (now Sulawesi), an Indonesian island.