Tectaria heracleifolia (Willd.) Underw.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Tectariaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tectaria heracleifolia (Willd.) Underw.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes suberect to erect, woody, 0.5-2 cm diam.; rhizome scales bicolorous, central portion dark brown, lustrous, margins thin, occasionally ciliate, slightly fimbriate, pale, lanceolate, 2-5 x 0.3-0.5 mm; fronds mostly (12-)30-70 cm long; stipes often longer than blades, stramineous to reddish brown at base, lustrous, with few scales at base and scattered hairs 0.1 mm long; blades firmly chartaceous, simple to 1-pinnate, deltate, (14-)20- 35(-50) x (2.5-)14-40 cm; rachises with scattered hairs 0.1 mm long, buds absent; pinnae 0-2(-4) 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 1-2 prominent basiscopic lobes and a shorter acroscopic lobe, lobes acute, 5-15 cm long, entire to sinuate; vein areoles pentagonal or hexagonal, commonly with a single, free, included veinlet; indument abaxially absent on costae and costules, or of sparse hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, or of short glandular hairs, adaxially of dense to scattered hairs 0.1 mm long along costae, otherwise usually glabrous; sori round, in 2 rows, one on either side of main lateral veins; indusia persistent, thick, peltate, 1.5-2.5(-3.5) mm diam., with scattered short hairs on surface; 2n=80 (SLP, CR), 160 (Fla, Jam), ca. 160 (Trin).

  • Discussion

    Aspidium heracleifolium Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 5(1): 217. 1810. Type. based on Plumier, Traite´ Foug. Ame´r., pl. 147. 1705, illustrating a plant from Hispaniola. Polypodium cordifolium M. Martens & Galeotti, Me´m. Foug. Mexique 31, pl. 4, f. 2., hom. illeg., non L., 1753. Type. Mexico. Veracruz: “Riviere de l’Antigua,” Galeotti 6313 (BR!-photo US!; isotype BR!). Tectaria heracleifolia (Willd.) Underw. var. maxima C. V. Morton, Amer. Fern J. 56: 126. 1966. Type. Mexico. Veracruz: Near Pueblo Nuevo, Reeder & Reeder 1975 (US!; isotype YU!). The placement of T. heracleifolia var. maxima in synonymy here is tentative. The type of this differs from all other Mexican specimens seen in being 2-pinnate at the base, with four pairs of pinnae. These characteristics suggest that it may be a hybrid, as Morton surmised, or perhaps more than just a variety of a widespread, common, and otherwise morphologically fairly uniform species.

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Tres Mari´as (reported by Lenz, 1995, but not verified). This is one of the commonest ferns at low and middle elevations in southern and eastern Mexico. It often grows on calcareous rocks or in sink holes, and may occasionally hybridize with other Tectarias, particularly T. incisa. The peltate indusia, 0–2 (rarely 3 or 4) lateral pinna pairs with cordate bases, longstalked proximal 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 and T. transiens (q.v.). Most specimens of T. heracleifolia have 0–2 pairs of lateral pinnae, but a few (e.g., Robles G. 207, XAL) have three or even four pinna pairs; occasional specimens are precociously fertile, with blades small and merely lobed at base (e.g., Marti´nez S. 15811, TEX, with blades 10 x 3 cm). See T. mexicana for comparison with that species. A few specimens of T. heracleifolia from Mexico are minutely pubescent with hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long on the costae (both sides) and also on the lamina between veins abaxially, e.g., Matuda 27185 (US) and 27539 (UC), both from Edo. Me´xico. Neither of these specimens approaches T. trichodes (which see) in pubescence.

  • Distribution

    Wet stream banks and rock outcrops (usually limestone); 50-1000(-2100) m. USA (Fla); Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan; Bah, Gr & L Ant; Col, Ven, Trin, Ec.

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