Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.

  • Family

    Cystopteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizome short-creeping, not protruding past youngest leaves; rhizome scales brown, lanceolate, lustrous, entire, mixed with fine hairs; fronds clumped; stipe (2-)4-20 cm long, ½-1/3 the frond length, stramineous to reddish-brown at base, some scales at base, glabrous or with scattered glandular hairs; blade (6-)9-20 cm long, (2.5-)4-8 cm wide, bipinnate to tripinnate-pinnatifid, ovate-lanceolate with lowermost 1-2 pairs of pinnae slightly shortened, apex pinnatifid; rachis glabrous to pubescent with glandular hairs; pinnae 7-15 pairs, 1-4 cm long, more than two cells thick; veins ending in small emargination (or in teeth); indusia glabrous with subentire to lacerate apex.

  • Discussion

    Polypodium fragile Linnaeus, Sp. pl. 2: 1091. 1753. Type. Uncertain. See Blasdell (1963) for discussion of typification and additional synonymy. Polypodium diaphanum Bory, Voy. îles Afrique 1: 328. 1804. Cystopteris fragilis (Linnaeus) Bernhardi ssp. diaphana (Bory) Litardière, Bull. Soc. Bot. Deux-Sèvres 23: 88. 1912. Cystopteris diaphana (Bory) Blasdell, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 21(4): 47. 1963. Type. Réunion. Bory s.n. (P). Aspidium fragile (Linnaeus) Swartz var. fumarioides? [sic] Martens & Galeotti, Mém. foug. Mexique 67. 1842. Type. Mexico. Temascal, Galeotti 6259 (BR?; isotype P!). Cystopteris acuta Fée, Mém. foug. 5: 300. 1850-1852. Type. Mexico. [Veracruz:] Pic d’Orizaba, Galeotti 6260 (P!). Until the Mexican members of the Cystopteris fragilis complex have been studied and characterized to the degree that the North American taxa have been (chromosomes, isozymes, etc.), a conservative treatment is followed combining C. fragilis s.s. with C. diaphana. The North American taxa include diploids, allopolyploids and various sterile hybrids, with species often having limited ranges. Cystopteris fragilis most closely resembles a small Dryopteris, but the hoodlike indusium of the former readily distinguishes it.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial, often on or among rocks; 1400-3400 m; Centro, Ixtlán, Juquila, Miahuatlán, Mixe, Pochutla, Sola de Vega, Teotitlán, Tlacolula, Tlaxiaco, Villa Alta; 1050-3400 m. Mexico (BC, Chih, Coah, Dgo, Sin, Nay, Jal, Mich, Gro, SLP, Mex, DF, Mor, NL, SLP, Hgo, Ver, Pue, Oax, Chis); Canada, US; Guat to Pan; Gr Antill; Col & Ven, to Chile & Arg; Europe, Africa, Asia.

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