Dicranopteris flexuosa (Schrad.) Underw.
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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
Gleicheniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Rhizome 2-5 mm thick, brown, clothed toward apex with numerous spreading, castaneous, articulate hairs. Primary frond axis 2-4 mm thick; primary lateral branches consisting of several opposite, distant pairs, these repeatedly pseudodichotomous, lacking a secondary axis; primary internodes usually 6-8(-18) cm long, others shorter, the nodes stipulate above and with accessory pinnae below. Accessory pinnae reaching as much as 13 cm in length, but those of upper nodes much smaller; pinnae sessile, 12-23 cm long, 2-6 cm broad, with outer basal segment sometimes prolonged and deeply pinnatifid, all segments cut nearly to the rhachis, glabrous throughout, light or yellowish-green on adaxial side, glaucous beneath, the margins often strongly revolute.
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Discussion
Basionym. Mertensia flexuosa Schrader, Gott. Gel. Anz. 1824: 863. 1824.
Type. Maximilian Prinz Neuwied, from Brazil (BR, photo BM).
Syn. Gleichenia flexuosa (Schrader) Mettenius, Ann, Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batarum 1: 50. 1863.
Mertensia dichotoma of Grisebach, Fl. Brit. W.I. 652. 1864, not Willd., 1810.
Gleichenia dichotoma of Jenman, Bull. Bot. Dept. Jamaica n.s. 5:276. 1898, not Mertensia dichotoma Willdenow, 1810.
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Distribution
General Distribution. Florida, Greater Antilles,
United States of America North America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| South America| Puerto Rico South America|