Oleandra articulata (Sw.) C.Presl

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Oleandraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Oleandra articulata (Sw.) C.Presl

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizome long-creeping to scandent, brownish, not pruinose; rhizome scales orange to reddish-brown, persistent, 4-6 mm long, spreading, linear-lanceolate, attenuate, margin minutely glandular-ciliate; fronds distant; phyllopodia 5-10 (-30) mm long; stipe 5-22 cm long; blade 1535 cm long, 3-5 cm wide, glabrous, lustrous, firm-herbaceous, base broadly to sharply cuneate, apex acuminate to caudate; sori in several, irregular rows, mostly from costa to halfway to margin; indusia 0.5-1 mm diam., glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Aspidium articulatum Swartz, J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(2): 30. 1801. Lectotype (chosen by Maxon, 1914: 394). Plumier, Traité foug. Amér., 1.136.1705, illustrating a plant from Martinique. For discussion, see Jon-cheere (Taxon 18: 538-541. 1969). Aspidium nodosum Willdenow, Sp. pl. 5: 211. 1810, nom. illeg. superfl. Oleandra nodosa (Willdenow) Presl, Tent, pterid. 78. 1836. Type. Based on same plate as Aspidium articulatum Swartz. Name incorrectly applied to this species by Morton (Amer. Fern J. 58: 105-107. 1968). The other Oleandra that gets as far north as Guatemala, O. guatemalensis Maxon, can be recognized by its appressed, bicolorous rhizome scales, and sori in one row (rarely two rows) on either side and near the costa. Oleandra bradei Christ of Costa Rica, which has creeping rhizomes with spreading scales and glabrous lamina, has deciduous rhizome scales and a pruinose rhizome.

  • Distribution

    On tree trunks, logs and in crevices of sandstone bluffs; Juchitán [=Veracruz, Wendt et al 3846 (NY)]; 350 m (40-900 m in Chiapas and Guatemala). Mexico (Ver, Chis); Guat to Pan; WI, Trin; Ven & Guy to Bol & s Braz.

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