Common name: Horse Shoe Fern, King Fern
Ptisana howeana (W.R.B.Oliv.) Murdock APNI* Synonyms: Marattia howeana (W.R.B.Oliv.) P.S.Green APNI*
Description: Large, robust fern.
Fronds up to 4 m long, 2- or 3-pinnate; pinnae alternate; pinnules very shortly petiolulate, lanceolate, 6–9 cm long, 1–2 cm broad, distinctly crenulate, ±abruptly acuminate, glabrous.
Synangia submarginal, 8 or 9 per cm, 2–3.5 mm long, with 15–22 pairs of sori.
Distribution and occurrence: Lord Howe Is. Endemic, and threatened. Found beside streams in dense forest in the mountainous southern half of the Island.
NSW subdivisions: LHI
Text by E.A. Brown Taxon concept: Flora of Australia 49
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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