Thelypteris reptans (J.F.Gmel.) C.V.Morton

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Thelypteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Thelypteris reptans (J.F.Gmel.) C.V.Morton

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes small, decumbent to suberect; fronds usually numerous, laxly arching or procumbent, subdimorphic, the sterile often rooting at the attenuate blade tips or along the rachises, mostly (10–)15–45 cm long, the fertile more erect and longer stalked, not rooting at tips; stipes 1–10(–25) cm x 0.5–1(–2) mm; blades mostly 10–30 x 3–6(–10) cm, pinnate in the proximal half or throughout; pinnae mostly 1.5–3 cm long, stalked ca. 1 mm or sessile, entire to crenate to shallowly lobed ca. 1/3 the way to the costae, linear to oblong or oval, truncate or sometimes subcordate at bases (fertile pinnae usually entire and more linear than sterile ones); segments 2–3 mm wide, rounded at the tips; veins 2–5(–7) pairs, the proximal pair from adjacent segments usually united with an excurrent branch to the sinuses, or veins free; indument on both sides of stellate or furcate hairs on rachises, costae, veins, and tissue between veins, the blades also with longer acicular hairs to 1 mm abaxially; sori medial, with indusia very small or seemingly sometimes absent, bearing a few long simple and/or forked hairs to 0.5 mm; sporangia glabrous; 2n=72 (Jam), 144 (Fla).

  • Discussion

    Polypodium reptans Sw., Prodr. 132. 1788, hom. illeg., non Augl., 1775. Type. Jamaica. Swartz s.n. (S?; isotypes B-Willd. 19673, microfiche UC!, photo US, UPS-THUNB 24564, microfiche UC!).

    Polypodium reptans J. F. Gmel., Syst. Nat. 2(2): 1309. 1791. Goniopteris reptans (J. F. Gmel.) C. Presl, Suppl. Tent. Pterid. 182. 1836. Dryopteris reptans (J. F. Gmel.) C. Chr., Index Filic. 288. 1905. Type. Jamaica. Swartz s.n. (S). Thelypteris darwinii L. D. Go´mez, Phytologia 60: 369. 1986. Type. Mexico. Yucata´n: Calcehtok, near Opiche´n, Darwin et al. 2144 (NO! isotypes CR, MEXU!).

    This is easily distinguished from all other Goniopteris in Mexico by the arching narrow fronds often less than 5 cm wide that are usually radicant at or near the blade tips and the entire or shallowly lobed, oblong, blunt pinnae. It is a member of a predominantly Antillean complex that often grows on calcareous rocks. The type of T. darwinii and also Calzada et al. 6686 differ primarily in having non-radicant fronds (both sterile and fertile), but this condition occurs, seemingly sporadically, nearly throughout the range of the species.

  • Distribution

    Usually epipetric on limestone rocks, cenotes and grutas; 50–1350 m. USA (Fla); Mexico; Guat, Bel; Bah, Gr & L Ant; Ven, Trin.

    Mexico North America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Venezuela South America| West Indies| Grand Bahama Bahamas South America| Belize Central America| Guatemala Central America|