Vittaria

• Authority

  Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.

• Family

  Pteridaceae

• Scientific Name

  Vittaria

• Description

  Genus Description - Epiphytic; rhizome short-creeping, rarely erect, with clathrate scales; fronds small to mediumsized, linear, monomorphic, clumped; stipe short to nearly lacking, glabrous; blade linear to narrowly elliptic, entire, membranaceous to coriaceous; veins obscure, netted, forming a single row of areoles between costa and margin; lamina glabrous; sporangia in a narrow line on each side of the midvein, usually immersed in a groove, exindusiate; paraphyses present; spores bilateral or tetrahedral, clear to golden, perispore lacking.

• Discussion

  Type: Vittaria lineata (Linnaeus) J. E. Smith [=Pteris lineata Linnaeus]. Vittaria is a pantropical genus of about 50 species, with only ca. 12 in America. It grows in wet forests of low to high elevation. Our species are mostly very widespread. The genus is distinct in its narrow, undivided fronds, linear, submarginal sori and a single row of areoles between costa and margin. References: Benedict, R. C. 1914. A revision of the genus Vittaria J. E. Smith. I. The species of the subgenus Radiovittaria. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 41: 391-410; Lellinger, D. B. 1972. Botany of the Guayana Highland. IX. Polypodiaceae subfam. Adiantoideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-23; Tryon, R. 1964a. Taxonomic fern notes. IV. Some American vittarioid ferns. Rhodora 66: 110-117; Tryon, R. 1964b. Vittaria. In The ferns of Peru. Polypodiaceae. Contr. Gray Herb. 94: 211-219.