davallia

Davallia is a genus of ferns belonging to the family Davalliaceae. The genus was first described by the German botanist Georg Friedrich Kaulfuss in 1824. The name "Davallia" is derived from the surname of the French botanist Jean Louis Marie Poiret, who was the first to describe the type species, Davallia canariensis. The genus is characterized by its pinnate fronds, which are typically divided into numerous pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are often elliptic or oblong in shape and have entire margins. Davallia species are commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. They are often epiphytic, growing on the trunks or branches of trees, or terrestrial, growing on the ground. The genus includes approximately 150 species, which are distributed across various continents, including Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America. Davallia species are valued for their ornamental qualities and are sometimes cultivated in gardens and greenhouses. They are also used in traditional medicine in some regions. The genus is further divided into several subgenera, including Davallia, Pteridophyllum, and Pteris. Each subgenus has its own distinctive characteristics and species.