Tectaria
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Authority
Proctor, George R. 1989. Ferns of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 53: 1-389.
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Family
Tectariaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Medium to large tenestrial fems of moist, rocky forests and shaded banks. Rhizomes woody, short-creeping to erect, with numerous fibrous roots and closely invested with stipe bases, the apex scaly. Fronds several, clustered, simple to 1-pinnate, 1-pinnate-pinnatifid, or pinnately compound, monomorphic; divisions usually broad with entire or sparingly incised margins; veins reticulate, the areoles with or without free included veinlets. Sori mostly round (sometimes elongate or irregular), scattered or bome in open rows; indusium peltate, reniform, or sometimes apparently lacking; paraphyses absent; sporangia with annulus of ca. 14 cells; spores somewhat ellipsoid or oblong, monolete, the surface with winglike folds, cristate, or echinate, the areas between folds sometimes spinulose.
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Discussion
Type Species. Tectaria trifoliata (Linnaeus) Cavanilles, based on Polypodium trifoliatum Linnaeus of tropical America.
A large pantropical genus of between 150 and 200 species. Since there is no general monograph of this genus, both generic and specific limits may be subject to future revision. Seven species are here credited to Puerto Rico, of which one is considered endemic. The generic name is derived from the Latin tectum, roof + aria, a substantive suflftx, alluding to the vaulted or roof-like indusium observed in some species.
Special Literature. Tryon, R. M. & A. F. Tryon. 1982, Fems and allied plants, pp, 470-480, 37 figs. The Tryons included Fadyenia in Tectaria, but because of its distinctive morphology the former genus is kept separate in the present book.