Calochlaena
Encyclopedia
Calochlaena is a genus of ferns within the Dicksoniaceae
family. Although these ground ferns resemble bracken, they are only distantly related. Five species are known from Melanesia, Polynesia and eastern Australia. Calochlaena dubia
, is a common fern of the east coast of Australia. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek
kalos "beautiful" and chlaina "cloak", and refers to the soft hairs on the species.
The genus was originally described by William Ralph Maxon
as a subgenus of the fern genus Culcita
, but the differences were such that its members were raised to genus level. Culcita was restricted to two species, one from Mediterranean Europe and one from North America.
Dicksoniaceae
The Dicksoniaceae is a family of tropical, subtropical and warm temperate ferns. Most of the 5-6 genera in the family are terrestrial ferns or have very short trunks compared to tree ferns of the family Cyatheaceae. However, some of the larger species can reach several metres in height. A number of...
family. Although these ground ferns resemble bracken, they are only distantly related. Five species are known from Melanesia, Polynesia and eastern Australia. Calochlaena dubia
Calochlaena dubia
Calochlaena dubia, commonly known as soft bracken, false bracken, common ground fern or rainbow fern, is a small Australian fern in the treefern family Dicksoniaceae. It is very common within its range, and often seen growing under eucalyptus forest, often on the poorer quality soils...
, is a common fern of the east coast of Australia. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
kalos "beautiful" and chlaina "cloak", and refers to the soft hairs on the species.
The genus was originally described by William Ralph Maxon
William Ralph Maxon
William Ralph Maxon, was an American botanist and pteridologist. He graduated from Syracuse University with a Ph.B. in 1898, and spent about one year at Columbia University doing post-graduate work on ferns with Lucien Marcus Underwood...
as a subgenus of the fern genus Culcita
Culcita
Culcita is a genus of cushion stars. They are found in tropical waters. Some are kept in home aquaruims. The genus contains three species:*Culcita coriacea Müller & Troschel, 1842*Culcita novaeguineae Müller & Troschel, 1842...
, but the differences were such that its members were raised to genus level. Culcita was restricted to two species, one from Mediterranean Europe and one from North America.