Pteris biaurita L.
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Authority
Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.
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Family
Pteridaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Rhizome scales 2-2.5 mm long, 1.0-1.2 mm wide, bicolorous, center black, heavily sclerified, margin wide, brown, fringed; fronds 60-100 cm long; stipe stramineous, glabrous with occasional trichomidia; blade pinnate-pinnatifid, one ba-siscopic pinnule per basal pinna; pinnae sessile; segments to 5 cm wide, 17-20 cm long, ultimate ones entire, obtuse, upper surface glabrous, lower surface glabrous except for occasional trichomidia 0.1 mm long; rachis awns reduced to cluster of papillae, 0.1-0.3 mm long; pinna awns lanceolate 0.1-0.3 mm, strongly decurrent, forming flange on either side of mid vein, 0.1 mm wide; veins free (or casually anastomosing) except for costal areole, one between costules; indusium 0.5-0.8 mm wide, entire; sporangia mixed with 0.3-0.5 mm long paraphyses; spores reddish-brown.
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Discussion
Lectotype (chosen by Proctor, 1977: 145): Plunder, Descr. pl. Amér., t. 14. 1693 (Traité foug. Amér., t. 15. 1705), illustrating a plant from Martinique or Hispaniola. LINN 1246.19 was added after 1755, according to Jackson (1912). Litobrochia galeottiiFée, Mém. foug. 8: 75. 1857. Pteris galeottii (Fée) Hooker, Sp. fil. 2: 204. 1858. Campteria galeottii (Fée) Moore, Index fil. 220. 1861. Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Teotalcingo, Galeotti 6485 (P). Pteris biaurita closely resembles P. quadriaurita in blade form but is distinguished by the costular row of areoles.
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Distribution
Along river banks in wet lowland forests; Pochutla; 350 m. Mexico (Nay, Oax, Chis); Guat to Pan; WI, Trin; Col to Gui, to Peru & Braz; Old World tropics.
Mexico North America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| French Guiana South America| Colombia South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| West Indies| Panama Central America| Guatemala Central America|