Vittaria lineata (L.) Sm.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Vittaria lineata (L.) Sm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes horizontal, compact, 1–1.5 mm diam.; rhizome scales clathrate, 6–7 mm long, 0.3–0.8 mm wide, uniform in size and cell wall thickness, apices narrowed to hair-like tip, 2 cells wide appearing as a single hair (the central wall between the two cells) for 1/3–1/2 the scale length, 3–6 cells wide at scale bases; fronds to 40 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, margins recurved; midribs evident abaxially only; paraphyses tan, slender, curved slightly, filiform, 0.1 mm long, the apical cell of each paraphysis not enlarged; spores bilateral.

  • Discussion

    Pteris lineata L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1073. 1753. Lectotype (chosen by R. Tryon 1964a: 213). Hispaniola. Plumier, Traite´ Foug. Ame´r., pl. 143. 1705. Vittaria deppeana Mu¨ll. Berol., Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 12: 547. 1854. Type. Mexico. [Veracruz:] Jalapa, Schiede 790 (B!, frag. NY!; isotype NY!).

    This species is abundant in the West Indies (at low and middle elevations) and perhaps South America, but in Mexico and Central America it is relatively uncommon (V. graminifolia and V. bradeorum are much more common). Most reports of this species in Mexico are based on misidentifications of V. graminifolia or V. bradeorum. No other species of Vittaria in Mexico or Mesoamerica has bilateral spores and filiform paraphyses. In addition, V. lineata occurs at elevations below about 500 m, whereas V. graminifolia is almost always at higher elevations. Lellinger (1972) synonymized V. deppeana under V. graminifolia, but the type of the former has bilateral spores, and thus agrees with V. lineata.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic in lowland and lower montane forests, often on palms; 50–500 m. USA (Fla); Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, Nic, CR, Pan; Gr & L Ant; Col, Ven, Trin, Guy, Sur, Fr Gui, Ec, Peru, Braz, Bol, Parag, Uru.

    Mexico North America| Paraguay South America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Colombia South America| West Indies| Panama Central America| Puntarenas Costa Rica Central America| Honduras Central America| Belize Central America| Guatemala Central America|