Anemia adiantifolia (L.) Sw.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Anemiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Anemia adiantifolia (L.) Sw.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes horizontal, creeping, ca. 2 mm diam.; rhizome hairs dark brown; fronds erect, 13–60 cm long, 1–20 mm apart; stipes 1/2–2/3 the frond length, 1–1.4 mm diam., stramineous to castaneous, hirsute to glabrous; blades deltate, 3-pinnate, 9–24 cm wide, coriaceous; pinnae 12–18 pairs, alternate to subopposite, segments oblanceolate, bases cuneate, apices obtuse, margins minutely denticulate, pilose with stiff white hairs; veins free; fertile pinnae remote from the sterile pinnae, usually shorter than the sterile blade; spores striate, ridges smooth; 2n=76, 152+ sterile triploid (Jam); 2n=76 (Col, SLP, Jam).

  • Discussion

    Osmunda adiantifolia L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1065. 1753. Ornithopteris adiantifolia (L.) Bernh., Neues J. Bot. 1(2): 40. 1806 [1805]. Lectotype (chosen by Proctor, Fl. L. Antill. 2: 53. 1977). Plumier, Traite´ Foug. Ame´r., pl. 158, 1705, based on material from Haiti, near Petit Goave. Osmunda asplenifolia Sav. in Lamarck, Encycl. 4: 652. 1797. Anemia asplenifolia (Sav.) Sw., Syn. Fil. 157. 1806. Anemia adiantifolia var. asplenifolia (Sav.) Hook. & Grev. Icon. Filic. 1: t.16. 1829. Type. Hispaniola. Martin s.n. (P; isotype B-Willd. 19499). Anemia carvifolia C. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1(1): 74. 1825. Type. Mexico. Haenke s.n. (PRC!). Anemia adiantifolia (L.) Sw. var. pumila Christ, Bull. Herb. Boissier, se´r. 2, 7: 794. 1907. Type. Puerto Rico. Sintenis 2194 (P!; isotype US!). Anemia adiantifolia (L.) Sw. var. subaurita Christ, Bull. Herb. Boissier, se´r. 2, 7: 794. 1907. Type. Puerto Rico. Utuado “in rupibus ad Los Angeles,” Sintenis 5948 (P!; isotype B!).

    This species and other members of subg. Anemiorrhiza in Mexico (A. cicutaria, A. colimensis, A. mexicana, and A. speciosa) are confined to calcareous rocks and soils. Anemia adiantifolia seems to be diploid in Mexico, but Walker (1962) found 2n, 3n, and 4n plants in Jamaica. In light of the varied numbers in several species of Anemia, other ploidy levels of A. adiantifolia might be expected in Mexico. This is one of the more common species of Anemia in Mexico. It is characterized by its fine dissection and coarse texture. It hybridizes with both varieties of A. mexicana: Anemia adiantifolia x mexicana var. mexicana (Fig. 15F) in Morelos, Nuevo Leo´n, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosi´; 2n=152 univalents (SLP); Anemia adiantifolia x mexicana var. makrinii (Fig. 15E) in Colima; n=76 univalents (Col). Anemia adiantifolia has also been found growing with A. colimensis (also subg. Anemiorrhiza), but no hybrids with that species have been found.

  • Distribution

    Open to lightly shaded, rocky slopes, usually on limestone or calcareous soils, in mesic regions; 80-1720 m. USA (Fla); Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, CR, Pan; Bah, Gr Ant; Col, Ven, Trin, Ec, Braz.

    Mexico North America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Ecuador South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| Bahamas South America| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| Honduras Central America| Belize Central America| Guatemala Central America|