Gaga cuneata

Description

Allosorus cuneatus synonymous with Gaga cuneata is a fern species in the family Pteridaceae. This species was first described by C.Presl in 1836. The scientific name of this species has not been elucidated. Gaga is a genus of 19 species of ferns in the family Pteridaceae named after American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga. Except for two new species, the rest of the Gaga ferns were reclassified, having previously been assigned to the genus Cheilanthes, based on their outward appearance. Biologists at Duke University explained that they listed the ferns with the name Gaga, due to the singer's active support of equality and individual expression. The decision received widespread attention from the science community and the media. The genus is described as the early offshoot of hemionitid ferns, and is most closely related to genus Aspidotis. Following the characteristics of most ferns, the Gaga group is homosporous in nature, and produce minute spherical spores that travel and fall down on the ground. They later germinate into heart-shaped gametophytes. Pteridaceae is a family of ferns in the order Polypodiales. including some 1150 known species in ca 45 genera (depending on taxonomic opinions), divided over five subfamilies.Members of Pteridaceae have creeping or erect rhizomes. The leaves are almost always compound and have linear sori that are typically on the margins of the leaves and lack a true indusium, typically being protected by a false indusium formed from the reflexed margin of the leaf. They are mostly terrestrial or epipetric (growing on rock).