Pteridium aquilinum var. arachnoideum (Kaulf.) Brade

  • Authority

    Proctor, George R. 1989. Ferns of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 53: 1-389.

  • Family

    Dennstaedtiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pteridium aquilinum var. arachnoideum (Kaulf.) Brade

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - General Distribution. Greater Antilles, St. Lucia,Trinidad, Central and South America.Distribution in Puerto Rico. Widely scattered,chiefly in the Cordillera Central, but seldom collected; recorded from Adjuntas, Jayuya, andJuncos,Habitat. Thickets and clearings at middle tohigh elevations (500-1338 m), apparently not common.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 32.

    Basionym. Pteris arachnoidea Kaulfuss, Enum. filic. 190. 1824.

    Type. Chamisso, from Brazil (LE, not seen, photo GH).

    Syn. Pteridium arachnoideum (Kaulfuss) Maxon, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 14: 89. 1924.

    This variety tends to be much larger and more robust than var. caudatum, with very stout, almost woody stipes that are most often orange in color.

  • Distribution

    General Distribution. Greater Antilles, St. Lucia,Trinidad, Central and South America.Distribution in Puerto Rico. Widely scattered,chiefly in the Cordillera Central, but seldom collected;recorded from Adjuntas, Jayuya, andJuncos,Habitat. Thickets and clearings at middle tohigh elevations (500-1338 m), apparently notcommon.

    Puerto Rico South America| Central America| South America|