Tectaria heracleifolia (Willd.) Underw.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Tectariaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tectaria heracleifolia (Willd.) Underw.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizome suberect to erect; rhizome scales bi-colorous, central portion dark brown, lustrous, margin thin, occasionally ciliate, slightly fimbriate, pale, lanceolate, 2-5 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm wide; fronds mostly (12-)30-70 cm long; stipe often longer than blade, stramineous to reddish-brown at base, lustrous, with few scales at base and scattered 0.1 mm long hairs; blade simple to once-pinnate, debate, (14-)20-35(-50) cm long, (2.5-) 14-40 cm wide; rachis with scattered, 0.1 mm long hairs, not gemmiferous; pinnae 02 lateral pairs (juvenile fronds merely cordate or trilobate), pentagonal, lateral and terminal ones with cordate base, basal pair much the largest, 12-25 cm long, long-stalked (3-30 mm), with 12 prominent basiscopic lobes and a shorter acroscopic lobe, lobes acute, 5-15 cm long, entire to sinuate; costae and costules below glabrous or sparse to rare 0.1 mm long hairs, or with short glandular hairs, adaxial costae with dense to scattered 0.1 mm long hairs; areoles pentagonal or hexagonal, a single, free, included veinlet common; sori in two rows, one on either side of main lateral veins; indusia persistent, thick, peltate, 1.5-2.5(-3.5) mm diam., scattered hairs on surface.

  • Discussion

    Aspidium heracleifolium Willdenow, Sp. pl. 5: 217. 1810. Type. Based on Plumier, Traité foug. Amér., t. 147. 1705, illustrating a plant from Hispaniola. Polypodium cordifolium Martens & Galeotti, Mém. foug. Mexique 31, t. 4, f. 2. 1842, nom. illeg., non Linnaeus, 1753. Type. Mexico. Veracruz: “Rivière de l’Antigua,” Galeotti 6313 (BR!; isotype BR!). The peltate indusia, 0-2 lateral pinnae with cordate bases, long-petiolate basal pinnae with 1-2 prominent basiscopic lobes and a single acroscopic lobe, narrow, bicolorous scales, and cordate-based terminal segment distinguish T. heracleifolia from T. incisa, T. transiens (q.v.), and T. vivipara. See T. mexicana for comparison.

  • Distribution

    Wet stream banks and rock outcrops (usually limestone); Choapan, Cuicatlán, Ixtlán, Juchitán, Mixe, Pochutla, Tuxtepec, Villa Alta; 50-900 m. Mexico (Tam, NL, SLP, Hgo, Ver, Pue, Mex, Mor, Qro, Nay, Jal, Col, Mich, Gro, Oax, Chis, Tab, QR, Yuc); US (Fla); Guat to Pan; WI, Trin; Ven to Peru.

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