Actiniopteris radiata

Actiniopteris radiata (Actiniopteris = 'ray fern') is a widely distributed fern occurring throughout Africa and adjacent islands, Madagascar, Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Burma and Australia.[1] It bears a close resemblance to Actiniopteris dimorpha Pic. Serm.

Actiniopteris radiata
Actiniopteris dimorpha
Actiniopteris dimorpha
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Family: Pteridaceae
Genus: Actiniopteris
Species:
A. radiata
Binomial name
Actiniopteris radiata

This species is found in hot, dry habitats, growing at the base of rocks and in crevices, but also on deep soil in shady places. It is common in deciduous woodland with perennially high temperatures and low rainfall, ranging from 500m to 1300m.

The distinctive fronds issue from a prostrate rhizome and are somewhat dimorphic. The laminae are 15-45mm long and fan-shaped with a spread of some 180 degrees, the tip of each segment bearing 2-5 teeth.[2]

Tests have shown that an aqueous and ethanolic extract of Actiniopteris radiata exhibits potent analgesic properties and antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi "Staphylococcus aureus" and Escherichia coli. The species also shows anti-fertility, styptic, anthelmintic, anti-tubercular and antioxidant properties. Major chemical constituents are hentriacontane, hentriacontanol, β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol palmitate, β-sitosterol-D-glucoside and quercetin-3-rutinoside [3][4][5]

In 1992 Botswana issued a postage stamp by Gillian Condy depicting this species.[6]

Synonyms

Synonyms include:[7]

  • Acrostichum radiatum (J.König ex Sw.) Poir.
  • Actiniopteris australis sensu Sim
  • Asplenium radiatum J.König ex Sw.
  • Pteris radiata (J.König ex Sw.) Bojer

References
  1. http://plants.jstor.org/flora/ftea004304
  2. Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies - JE Burrows (1990)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-06-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Manubolu, Manjunath; Goodla, Lavanya; Chandar, Budadasari Godwin Noble; Ravilla, Sivajyothi; Obulum, Vijayasarathi Reddy (2013). "Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Wax from Actiniopteris radiata (Sw.) Link". Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants. 16 (3): 387–392. doi:10.1080/0972060X.2013.764185.
  5. Manubolu, Manjunath; Goodla, Lavanya; Ravilla, Sivajyothi; Thanasekaran, Jayakumar; Dutta, Paresh; Malmlöf, Kjell; Obulum, Vijayasarathi Reddy (2014). "Protective effect of Actiniopteris radiata (Sw.) Link. Against CCl4 induced oxidative stress in albino rats". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 153 (3): 744–752. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.03.040. PMID 24680994.
  6. Actiniopteris radiata. Colnect.
  7. Actiniopteris radiata. Flora of Zimbabwe


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