Introduction

Danaea simplicifolia is one of the few species in Danaea that has simple leaves in adulthood. This retention of a juvenile character (neoteny) can also explain why sometimes the plants get a few extra pinna protruding from its single node. It has been suggested (Christenhusz, 2007; Christenhusz et al., 2008), that the once pinnate leaves of Danaea and Angiopteris (clades "Archangiopteris" and "Macroglossum") can also be explained by neoteny.