Polypodium californicum Kaulf.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Polypodiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Polypodium californicum Kaulf.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizomes creeping, 5–10 mm diam.; rhizome scales brown, concolorous, ovate-lanceolate with twisted tips, 5–6 mm long,margins denticulate; fronds 10–22 cm long, clumped; stipes 1/3–1/2 the frond length, stramineous, glabrous; blades pinnatifid, lanceolate, 4.5–9 cm wide; pinnae 8–12 pairs, 2–5(–7.5) cm x 7–10 mm, tips broadly acute; laminae thin, herbaceous, glabrous except for rare jointed hairs 1 mm long in pinna axils and rare minute, clavate hairs 0.1 mm long along rachises; margins toothed; veins free or with occasional anastomoses; sori round, in a single row on each side of costae; sporangia glabrous; 2n=74 (Calif).

  • Discussion

    Type. U.S.A. California, Chamisso s.n. (LZ destroyed; isotypes LE!, UC!, also with drawing of LE type).

    Polypodium californicum belongs to the circumboreal P. vulgare complex. It is distinct in its glabrous, pinnatisect blades with free to netted veins. In Mexico, it is most closely related to P. hesperium, which differs in its smaller, narrower, totally glabrous blades, and P. scouleri, confined in Mexico to Guadeloupe Island, which has fewer pinnae and coriaeous blades. Molecular evidence shows that P. plesiosorum is also closely related.