Pellaea ovata (Desv.) Weath.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pellaea ovata (Desv.) Weath.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes short- to moderately creeping, slender, ca. 2 mm diam.; rhizome scales 2–3 x 0.5–0.8 mm, bicolorous, central portion lustrous black, margins thin, light brown, erose, tip hairlike; fronds to 60 cm long; stipes ca. 1/3 the frond length, stramineous, plane on top, glabrous to sparsely hairy with scattered black specks, rachises flexuous, costae and costules densely short-pubescent with reddish hairs 0.1–0.3 mm long; blades deltate, 2–3-pinnate, the pinnae retroflexed, segments elliptic to ovate, glabrous, articulate, bases cordate, apices obtuse to truncate, 8–12 x 5–10 mm, terminal pinnule of each pinnae with base equilateral; veins obscure, subcoriaceous; margins recurved with narrow modified entire indusia 0.1 mm wide; spores brown; 2n=58 (Tex, CR), n=2n =87, apogamous (SLP).

  • Discussion

    Pteris ovata Desv., Me´m. Soc. Linn. Paris 6: 301. 1827. Type. Peru. s. coll. s.n. (P-Desv., not found, photos GH, UC). Pteris flexuosa Kaulf. ex Schltdl. & Cham., Linnaea 5: 614. 1830. Allosorus flexuosus (Schltdl. & Cham.) Kunze, Linnaea 13: 136. 1839. Pellaea flexuosa (Schltdl. & Cham.) Link, Fil. Spec. 60. 1841. Platyloma flexuosa (Schltdl. & Cham.) J. Sm., Bot. Mag. 72(Compendium): 21. 1846. Type. Mexico. [Veracruz:] Near Jalapa, Schiede & Deppe s.n., Aug 1828 (B; isotype LE!).

    Pellaea ovata is distinct by its strongly flexuous blade axes and densely hairy costae. There are two forms of this species, an apogamous 32-spored form and a sexual 64-spored form.

  • Distribution

    Dry, rocky slopes and moist oak forests; 900– 2550 m. USA (Tex); Mexico; Guat, Hond, Nic, CR; Hisp; Col, Ven, Ec, Peru, Bol, Arg.

    Mexico North America| Argentina South America| Bolivia South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Ecuador South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| West Indies| Costa Rica South America| Nicaragua Central America| Honduras Central America| Guatemala Central America| Texas United States of America North America|