Todea

plant genus

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July 14, 2026

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Todea is a genus of ferns belonging to the family Osmundaceae. This family is considered a primitive group of large ferns. The genus Todea is distinguished from other genera in the family, such as Osmunda and Leptopteris, by the placement of its sporangia (spore-producing structures) on the underside of ordinary green leaflets, rather than on specialized fertile leaves or leaflets.12

The genus Todea includes two species: T. barbara, found in Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, and T. papuana, native to New Guinea. The name Todea honors the German botanist H.J. Tode.21

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fern
Annotated classification
Osmunda, Osmundopteris, Plenasium, and Todea) and 20 modern species, distributed nearly worldwide. Order Hymenophyllales Family Hymenophyllaceae (filmy ferns) Mostly rainforest epiphytes; mostly tiny ferns with blades only 1 cell thick between veins; spores globose, green;
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Osmunda, Osmundopteris, Plenasium, and Todea) and 20 modern species, distributed nearly worldwide. Order Hymenophyllales Family Hymenophyllaceae (filmy ferns) Mostly rainforest epiphytes; mostly tiny ferns with blades only 1 cell thick between veins; spores globose, green;
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Osmundaceae
…present-day genera of large ferns—Osmunda, Todea, and Leptopteris—the family contains about 20 species; 5 to 10 extinct genera date from the Late Permian Period (about 260 million to 251 million years ago). Thamnopteris and Zalesskya are the earliest known members of the family. The Osmundaceae family is characterized by spore-producing…
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…present-day genera of large ferns—Osmunda, Todea, and Leptopteris—the family contains about 20 species; 5 to 10 extinct genera date from the Late Permian Period (about 260 million to 251 million years ago). Thamnopteris and Zalesskya are the earliest known members of the family. The Osmundaceae family is characterized by spore-producing…
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