Polystichum polystichiforme (Fée) Maxon

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Dryopteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Polystichum polystichiforme (Fée) Maxon

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizome curved-ascending, 6-9 mm thick (excluding the closely adhering stipe bases), densely clothed at apex with thin, brown, broadly lanceolate to ovate-oblong scales up to 8 mm long. Fronds few, spreading, mostly 40-65 cm long; stipes shorter than the blades, the lower end persistently scaly like the rhizome. Blades deltatelanceolate, 25-35(-40) cm long, (8-)12-22 cm broad at or near base, 2-pinnate except toward the attenuate apex; rhachis slender (1-1.5 mm diam.), straight, deeply grooved adaxially, deciduously fibrillose, and always bearing a small, scaly, proliferous bud in a pinna-axil 3-5 cm from tip of blade. Larger pinnae lanceolate or narrowly oblong, 6-11 cm long, 1.8-2.4 cm broad, acuminate, subfalcate; pinnules 11-15 pairs, obliquely ovate-oblong or rhombic-oblong, mostly short-stalked, shortly aristate at apex, the acroscopic margin lightly spinulose-lobed or toothed, the basal acroscopic pinnules of lower pinnae sometimes with 1 or 2 free secondary pinnules at base; veins 1- to 3-forked, sparsely fibrillose abaxially; tissue thinly herbaceous, translucent. Sori inframedial, or sometimes a second row on acroscopic side; indusium absent.

  • Discussion

    Basionym. Phegopteris polystichiformis Fee, Mem. foug. 5: 243. 1852; op. cit 11: 52. 1866. Type. Linden 1874, from vie. Monte Libano, Oriente, Cuba (RB; isotype BM).

    Syn. Aspidium aculeatum of Jenman, Bull. Bot. Dept. Jamaica n.s. 2: 269. 1895, in part, not Swartz, 1802.

    Polystichum tenue Gilhert, Fem Bull. 8: 63. 1900. (Lectotype. Clute 136, from Jamaica, isolectotype US.)

  • Distribution

    General Distribution. Greater Antilles; closely related forms occur in Central America.