Oleandra articulata (Sw.) C.Presl

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Oleandraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Oleandra articulata (Sw.) C.Presl

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizome wide-creeping or scandent, up to 5 m long or more, 2-4 mm thick, densely scaly, the scales spreading, reddish-brown, hair-pointed from a lanceolate base, and with margins glandular- ciliolate. Fronds distant, mostly 20-80 cm long, glabrous throughout; phyllopodia slender, naked, 1-8 cm long, distinctly articulate at junction with stipes; stipes much shorter than the blades. Blades lance-linear to oblong or narrowly elliptic-oblong, 15-55 cm long, 3-8 cm broad, the apex abruptly caudate with tail-like tip 1-4 cm long; tissue papery-membranous, bright green, lustrous, the costa bearing a few cordate-deltate scales on abaxial side. Sori irregularly scattered the majority nearer to the costa than the margins; indusium roundish-reniform, glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Figs. 77, 78.

    Basionym. Aspidium articulatum Swartz, J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(2): 30. 1802.

    Type. Plumier, Traite foug. Amer., t. 136, based on material found by Plumier at Morne Rouge, Martinique.

    Syn. Polypodium articulatum (Swartz) Poiret in Lamarck, Encycl. 5: 514. 1804, in part.

    Aspidium nodosum Willdenow in Linnaeus, Sp. pl. 5: 211. 1810. (Based on the same type as A. articulatum Swartz.)

    Oleandra nodosa (Willdenow) K. Presl, Tent. pterid. 78. 1836.

  • Distribution

    General Distribution. Greater and Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, and continental tropical America from Mexico to Bolivia.

    West Indies| Mexico North America| Central America| Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America|