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 Fée) Alston

Adventive distribution

none

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

amphibious, creeping, seasonally submerged

Brief description

Perennial perennial:
(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 sporangiasporangia:
(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.