Woodwardia fimbriata Sm.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Blechnaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Woodwardia fimbriata Sm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes stout, short-creeping to suberect; fronds mostly erect to ascending; stipes (18-)30-60(-72) cm long, abundantly scaly at base, the scales brownish to orange-brown; blades pinnatepinnatifid, 25-100 cm long, broadest at or just below the middle, distal pinnae subcordate at the base; rachises sparsely scaly to usually glabrescent; pinnae (8-)10-24 pairs, the proximal pair distant from the rest, the lower and middle ones mostly 15-25 x 3.5-9 cm, pinnatifid, asymmetric at base by the reduction of the basalmost basiscopic lobe(s); pinna lobes broadly attached at base, narrowed gradually distally or with margins parallel for some distance to the acute to obtuse apex, frequently with margins of proximal pinnae crenate to deeply incised, the lobes spinulose along the margins; indument abaxially of sparse fibrillose scales less than 0.5 mm long on costules, veins, and leaf tissue, also of sparse, stramineous to whitish, linear-lanceolate scales to ca. 2 mm along costae, these often deciduous, laminae abaxially often with yellowish resinous glands and short-stipitate glands; sori usually confined to costular areoles, short-linear, (1-)2-5mm long, mostly 2-4 times as long as broad, straight or curved, deeply sunken into the blade tissue; indusia cartilaginous and vaulted, persisting and retaining form after sporangial dehiscence; spores 64 per sporangium; 2n=68 (Calif).

  • Discussion

    Type. “West coast of North America” (protologue), “New Georgia” [probably U.S.A. Washington: Puget Sound area, in litt. from Eric Groves] at BM, Menzies s.n. (LINN 1628.8-Smith Herb., photo in Philipp. J. Sci. 50: 175-183. 1933; isotypes BM, E-herb. Menzies, LIV).

    Woodwardia chamissoi Brack., U.S. Expl. Exped., Filic. 16: 138. 1854. Lectotype (chosen here, informally selected by Cranfill, 2001: 218). U.S.A. California: Sacramento River, Brackenridge s.n. (US 62650, photo UC!).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. NL (Rodri´guez 8, UANL, ENCB, cited by Rodri´guez-Lo´pez & Arregui´n-Sa´nchez, 1992, but the specimen is likely W. spinulosa). This species is difficult to separate from W. spinulosa, and some of the specimens cited are somewhat intermediate between W. spinulosa, as it occurs in southern and Central Mexico, and W. fimbriata, from the western United States. Characters listed by Maxon (1919) do not appear to be diagnostic. See discussion under W. spinulosa for differences with that species

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial, along streambanks and springs; 400-2100 m. Canada (British Columbia, especially Vancouver Is),USA (Ariz, Calif, Nev, Ore, Wash); Mexico.

    Canada North America| United States of America North America| Mexico North America|