I have always wondered how Acrostichum establishes in aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. In the mangrove forest of the Sungei Buloh nature reserve in Singapore, I observed that the gametophytes of Acrostichum speciosum were establishing on soil mounds produced by mud crabs. The mounds rise above the level of high tide. I did not observe any gametophytes or sporophytes that were not on these mounds.
Observation Data
Classification & Common Names
- Class: Polypodiopsida
- Family: Pteridaceae
- Genus: Acrostichum L.
- Species: Acrostichum speciosum Willd.
- Var./Subsp.:
- Common name(s):
General Observation Data
- Date: 26-IX-2010
- Habitat: Mangrove forest
- Habit: Aquatic, Terrestrial
Additional Comments
Gametophytes establishing on mud crab mounds in mangrove.
Location
- Location: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve – – – – Singapore.
- Coordinates: 1.447470, 103.730181 [estimated from map]
- Elevation: