Dicranopteris

Dicranopteris is a genus of about 12 species within the fern family Gleicheniaceae. This family is considered relatively primitive and has a fossil record dating back to the Jurassic Period. Dicranopteris ferns are often found in tropical regions, colonizing open or disturbed areas such as road banks. A distinctive characteristic of most Gleicheniaceae, including Dicranopteris, is their unique leaf development. The main axis of the leaf blade forks repeatedly, with a dormant bud between the branches, allowing for indeterminate growth. This results in very long leaves that can creep and climb over other vegetation, forming dense masses. The spore-producing structures, called sporangia, are clustered in small, round sori.1