The Whisk fern reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Whisk fern

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Whisk Fern
Closeup of the branches of a whisk fern, Psilotum nudumEnlarge

Closeup of the branches of a whisk fern, Psilotum nudum

Scientific classification
Domain:Eukaryota
Kingdom:Plantae
Subkingdom:Tracheobionta
Division:Psilotophyta
Class:Psilotopsida
Order:Psilotales
Family:'''Psilotaceae
Genus:Psilotum
Species
  • Psilotum nudum (L) Beauvois - whisk fern
  • Psilotum complanatum Sw. - whisk fern

The whisk fern, traditionally thought not to be a true fern, is an odd, "primitive" vascular plant that sheds solely by spore, without seeds. Recent evidence has suggested that this plant may in fact be a fern that has lost a number of pteridophytic characteristics, but its status is still uncertain.

There are only two species, as listed in the taxobox, with a hybrid known: Psilotum x intermedium W.H.Wagner.

The distribution of Psilotum is tropical and subtropical, in the New World, Asia, and the Pacific. The highest latitudes known are in South Carolina for P. nudum.