Adiantum capillus-veneris L.

  • Authority

    Proctor, George R. 1989. Ferns of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 53: 1-389.

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Adiantum capillus-veneris L.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizome creeping, 1.5-2.5 mm thick, laxly clothed with light brown, clathrate, lance-linear, entire scales ca. 1 mm long. Fronds laxly ascending or pendent, 10-40(-70) cm long; stipes much shorter to longer than the blades, lustrous purple-black, glabrous. Blades lanceolate to ovate, 8-25(-40) cm long, 3-22 cm broad, 2- to 3-pinnate at base, tapering to the 1 -pinnate attenuate apex; pinnae laxly spreading, alternate, stalked; ultimate pinnules variable in size and shape, obovate to rhombic or obliquely oblong, 5-30 mm long, narrowly to broadly cuneate, the distal margin deeply lobed or incised; sterile pinnules with denticulate margins, the ultimate veinlets running into acute or acuminate teeth. Sori solitary on the lobes, mostly oblong-lunate; indusioid flap pale brown, its margin thin and delicately subclathrate.

    Distribution and Ecology - General Distribution. Cosmopolitan in tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate regions. Distribution in Puerto Rico. Known only from a few widely-scattered localities; recorded from Coamo (Coamo Springs), Guayanilla (Quebrada de los Cedros), Salinas (Barrio Lapa: Hwy. 1, km 73.5), and San Juan (on old masonry walls of El Mono and a few other sites). Habitat. On moist limestone or other nonacidic ledges, shaded cliflfs, and old masonry walls at low to middle elevations (10-400 m), rare or locally frequent.

  • Discussion

    Lectotype. Magnol, from southem France (LINN 1252.9).