Pteris podophylla Sw.

  • 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 podophylla Sw.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes stout, erect, massive; rhizome scales bicolorous, centers black; fronds 70–200(–300) cm tall, clumped; stipes ca. 1/2 the frond length, stramineous to castaneous; blades pedate, pinnate-pinnatifid above the basal pinna pair; suprabasal pinnae truncate, sessile; bases of penultimate segments abrupt to cuneate, not decurrent; fertile sinuses broadly U-shaped (nearly round); segments sessile, falcate, serrate, with recurved, sharp-pointed teeth, adaxial surfaces glabrous, abaxial surfaces with long, brown, flaccid or appressed hairs 0.5–0.8 mm long, trichomidia 0.1–0.3 mm long, and erect, terete, golden brown hairs 0.5–0.8 mm long; rachis awns absent or replaced by hairs; pinna awns 1 mm long; veins netted, 1–2 rows of areoles between midribs and margins, 1 costal areole between adjacent costules, more than one costal areole at sinuses; indusia 0.8 mm wide, entire, surface with occasional hairs and short flaps; sporangia mixed with paraphyses 0.5–0.8 mm long; spores reddish brown.

  • Discussion

    Lonchitis pedata L., Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 2: 1536. 1763, non Pteris pedata L., 1753. Type. Jamaica. Browne s.n. (LINN 1249.1; Browne, Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica, t. 1, f. 1, 2. 1756).

    Pteris inflexa Copel., Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 19: 289. 1941. Type. Mexico. Veracruz: Orizaba, Copeland herb. 79 (US!, frag. NY!; isotypes GH, MEXU, MICH, UC!, US!).

    Pteris podophylla is closely related to P. erosa and P. orizabae; the characters in the key distinguish the three. The abaxial surfaces of P. podophylla, with erect, terete, concolorous hairs, are clearly different from surfaces of P. orizabae, which have long, flaccid hairs or are glabrous.