Family: Psilotaceae
Author: (L.) P.Beauv.
Bibliography: Prodr. Aethéogam.: 112 (1805)
Year: 1805
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Psilotum
Vegetable: False
Observations: Tropics & Subtropics
Description
The Skeleton fork fern, renowned for its distinctive appearance and unique biological characteristics, carries the scientific name Psilotum nudum. This intriguing plant, first documented in the early 19th century by the botanist Palisot de Beauvois in “Prodr. Aethéogam.” in 1805, is a member of the Psilotaceae family.
Thriving primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, the Skeleton fork fern has adapted to various environments across the globe. Its distribution highlights its resilience and versatility in different climatic conditions, allowing it to be a subject of interest for botanists and plant enthusiasts alike.
The plant itself is notable for appearing almost primitive, often lacking true roots and leaves, which gives it a skeletal appearance reminiscent of ancient vascular plants. This fascinating fern reproduces through spores, a characteristic that further emphasizes its primitive lineage.
Given its unique morphology and the environments it inhabits, the Skeleton fork fern serves as a living link to the distant past of plant evolution. It not only enriches the biodiversity of the regions it lives in but also provides valuable insights into the history and evolution of vascular plants.
Common Names
Deu: nacktfarn
Eng: whisk fern, skeleton fork fern, whisk-fern, psilotum
Swe: kvastormbunke
Kor: sol-ip-ran
Spa: helecho escoba
En: Skeleton fork fern, Whisk fern, Whisk-fern, Psilotum
Af: Stoffervaring
Zh: 松葉蕨
Cs: Prutovka nahá
Fi: Haarusanikkainen
De: Nacktfarn
Ko: 솔잎란, Sol-ip-ran
Es: Canuto (Cádiz), Helecho escoba
Sv: Kvastormbunke
Zh-tw: 松葉蕨
Ta: சைலோட்டம் நூடம்
To: Limufonua
Synonyms
- Psilotum domingense (Gand.)
- Bernhardia dichotoma (Willd.)
- Bernhardia capensis (Müll.Berol.)
- Hoffmannia aphylla (Willd.)
- Psilotum floridanum (Michx.)
- Psilotum triquetrum f. insulare (Brade)
- Psilotum triquetrum var. gracile (Grev. & Hook.)
- Psilotum heterocarpum (Colenso)
- Psilotum triquetrum var. latum (Desv.)
- Bernhardia antillarum (Müll.Berol.)
- Psilotum triquetrum var. fallacinum (Domin)
- Tristeca nuda ((L.) P.Beauv. ex J.St.-Hil.)
- Psilotum triquetrum (Sw.)
- Bernhardia novae-hollandiae (K.Mull.)
- Bernhardia oahuensis (Müll.Berol.)
- Psilotum novae-zelandiae (Gand.)
- Bernhardia deppeana (Müll.Berol.)
- Psilotum flabellatum (Gand.)
- Lycopodium nudum (L.)
- Psilotum nudum var. normale (Domin)
- Psilotum nudum var. molesworthiae (Iranzo, Prada & Salvo)
- Psilotum nudum var. fallicinum ((Domin) Domin)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Andaman Is. (native)
- Angola (native)
- Argentina Northeast (native)
- Argentina Northwest (native)
- Arizona (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Assam (native)
- Bahamas (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Belize (native)
- Bermuda (native)
- Bolivia (native)
- Brazil North (native)
- Brazil Northeast (native)
- Brazil South (native)
- Brazil Southeast (native)
- Brazil West-Central (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Cape Verde (native)
- Caroline Is. (native)
- Cayman Is. (native)
- Central American Pac (native)
- Chagos Archipelago (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Christmas I. (native)
- Colombia (native)
- Comoros (native)
- Cook Is. (native)
- Costa Rica (native)
- Cuba (native)
- Dominican Republic (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Ecuador (native)
- El Salvador (native)
- Equatorial Guinea (native)
- Fiji (native)
- Florida (native)
- Free State (native)
- Gabon (native)
- Galápagos (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Ghana (native)
- Gilbert Is. (native)
- Guatemala (native)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
- Haiti (native)
- Hawaii (native)
- Honduras (native)
- India (native)
- Jamaica (native)
- Japan (native)
- Kazan-retto (native)
- Kenya (native)
- Kermadec Is. (native)
- Korea (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Laos (native)
- Leeward Is. (native)
- Lesotho (native)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
- Liberia (native)
- Line Is. (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Madagascar (native)
- Malaya (native)
- Maluku (native)
- Marianas (native)
- Marquesas (native)
- Marshall Is. (native)
- Mauritius (native)
- Mexican Pacific Is. (native)
- Mexico Central (native)
- Mexico Gulf (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Mexico Southeast (native)
- Mexico Southwest (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Nansei-shoto (native)
- Nauru (native)
- Nepal (native)
- New Caledonia (native)
- New Guinea (native)
- New South Wales (native)
- New Zealand North (native)
- Nicaragua (native)
- Nicobar Is. (native)
- Nigeria (native)
- Niue (native)
- Norfolk Is. (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- Northern Provinces (native)
- Northern Territory (native)
- Ogasawara-shoto (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Panamá (native)
- Paraguay (native)
- Peru (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Pitcairn Is. (native)
- Puerto Rico (native)
- Queensland (native)
- Rodrigues (native)
- Réunion (native)
- Samoa (native)
- Santa Cruz Is. (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- Senegal (native)
- Seychelles (native)
- Society Is. (native)
- Solomon Is. (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- South China Sea (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Sulawesi (native)
- Swaziland (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Texas (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Tokelau-Manihiki (native)
- Tonga (native)
- Tuamotu (native)
- Tubuai Is. (native)
- Tuvalu (native)
- Uganda (native)
- Uruguay (native)
- Venezuela (native)
- Venezuelan Antilles (native)
- Victoria (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- Wallis-Futuna Is. (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Western Australia (native)
- Windward Is. (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
Additional Images
Leaf
Taken Nov 4, 2019 by Katie KR (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2022 by Jake Kuechenmeister (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 11, 2021 by Navarro Irene (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 15, 2020 by denruytermichelle1953 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 11, 2019 by Sánchez Eduardo (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jul 30, 2019 by Daniel Bäck (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 17, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Apr 9, 2021 by George Henry (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 29, 2003 by il genio cercatore di notizie (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 6, 2020 by Robyn (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 24, 2021 by Matthew Brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Feb 5, 2021 by vlzqz miguel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 20, 2020 by sg Seah (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 17, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken May 9, 2017 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Feb 12, 2021 by Mañas Espinosa Mariona (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 9, 2017 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken May 9, 2017 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken May 9, 2017 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2688176)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:212103-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Psilotum nudum (L.) P. Beauv.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb