Pteris longifolia L.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pteris longifolia L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes short-creeping to suberect, densely clothed with scales at apices; rhizome scales dimorphic, 5–7 mm long, grading to hairs 2 mm long, concolorous, yellow to light brown; fronds 20–100 cm long, clumped; stipes less than 1/2 the frond length, stramineous with dense pale scales and hairs; blades 1-pinnate, not pedate, tapering proximally, chartaceous to coriaceous; pinnae (28–)32–70 pairs, articulate, auriculate, entire to crenulate, adaxial surfaces glabrous or with scattered hairs on costae, abaxial surfaces, with dense clear hairs 0.8–1 mm long on veins; awns absent; veins free; indusia 0.5–0.8 mm wide, erose; sporangia mixed with paraphyses 0.3 mm long; spores cream to tan; 2n=116 (Grand Cayman Island, Jam, Peru).

  • Discussion

    Lectotype (chosen by Proctor, Fl. L. Antill. 2: 141. 1977). Plumier, Descr. Pl. Ame´r., pl. 18, 1693 (Traite´ Foug. Ame´r., pl. 1705), illustrating a plant from Haiti, near Port de Paix. LINN 1246.2 was added to LINN after 1755 (Jackson, 1912).

    Pteris aequalis C. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1(1): 54. 1825. Type. Mexico. Haenke s.n. (PR!).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Camp (Marti´nez S. et at. 28081, MEXU, XAL, cited by Palacios-Rios, 2002a, but not verified). NL (reported by Aguirre Clavera´n, 1983, but cited plants are P. vittata). This 1-pinnate, free-veined, awnless species is abundantly covered with scales and hairs on the stipes and rachises and has erose indusia. It is closely related to the Old World P. vittata, which has escaped from cultivation in many parts of the New World (Morton, Amer. Fern J. 47: 7–14. 1957), but it has not been reported previously in Mexico or Central America (Smith, 1981; Stolze, 1981). Pteris vittata can be distinguished from P. longifolia in having fewer pinnae (11–22(–35) pairs vs. (28–)32– 70 pairs), pinnae not articulate (vs. articulate), indusia entire (vs. erose), and terminal pinnae more strongly developed

  • Distribution

    Rocky roadbanks in mesic to dry areas; 50–1900 m. USA (Fla); Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond; Bah, Gr & L Ant; Ven, Trin.

    Bahamas South America| Honduras Central America| Guatemala Central America| Venezuela South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America|