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Thelypteris phegopteris (L.) Sloss. (Finland, Siuntio, Kokkila, 1992), morph 1 (on the left) and morph 2 (on the right). – Image: Harri Harmaja (scanned from dried specimens). – T. phegopteris (Thelypteridaceae) varies somewhat in Finland. Not rarely fronds can be assorted as belonging to one or the other of the two morphs depicted above. The morphs may occur in the same habitats. The differences in the shapes of the pinnae and pinnulae are fairly obvious in the images. Morph 2 has smaller fronds which usually display a paler tinge of green. Moreover, the scales of the rachis and its branches in the underside of frond are brown throughout in morph 1 but have generally brown and white zones in morph 2. Additional differences (e.g., in the spores) may exist. The constancy and possible taxonomical relevance of these observations of mine require further study. Both types of plants are common in southern Finland but morph 1 is more abundant and apparently represents "typical" T. phegopteris.
Created August 29, 2004.