Osmunda

Royal fern ( Osmunda regalis ), illustration.

Osmunda ( Osmunda ), also called Rispenfarne, is a genus in the family of Königsfarngewächse ( Osmundaceae ), which is among the ferns. There are 15 types of terrestrial ferns growing.

The sporangia are not grouped into sori and lack an annulus.

The home of the species is mainly in the northern hemisphere and the subtropics; rarely in the Neotropics.

Species

The genus Osmunda ( Osmunda ) include 15 species. In the Central European flora only the royal fern (O. regalis ) occurs. In Atlantic Europe, the species has its main distribution point; Moreover, it is almost common in the temperate zones of the world.

The related species are interesting:

• When Zimtfarn, also known as cinnamon fern ( Osmunda cinnamomea L.) there are purely of assimilation serving leaves and pure sporulation serving leaves. The species is found in North, Central and South America, and East Asia. Young leaves are collected in Canada and prepared the stalks like asparagus.
• When Teufelsfarn, also called Dark Kronenfarn or Münzrollenfarn, ( Osmunda claytoniana L.) the pinnae of the fertile leaves in the middle range are skeletonized and bear spore capsules - pure sterile leaves without sporangia also occur. The range of the species is North America and East Asia.

Interesting is the fossil find of Osmunda claytoniites from the Triassic of Antarctica. O. claytoniana and be about 200 million years old relative O. claytoniites are morphologically almost indistinguishable. The genus Osmunda is therefore at least 200 million years old and thus one of the longest detectable plant genera of the earth.

The genus name was chosen as a reminder of the Norse thunder god Thor, whose surname Osmunder.