Difference between revisions of "Dicranopteris flexuosa"

Revision as of 18:57, 24 September 2019

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Stems 2–5 mm diam.; hairs reddish brown to chestnut brown, falling off early. Leaves to more than 1 m, axes straw-colored, glabrous except at petiole base. Penultimate segments sessile, divergent to ascending, in ± equal pairs, deeply pinnatisect, lanceolate to oblanceolate, to 30 × 6 cm wide, leathery, glabrous, whitish waxy or glaucous abaxially. Ultimate segments linear, slightly dilated proximally, margins strongly revolute, apex retuse. Sori nearer midrib than margin; sporangia usually 6–12 per sorus.

Habitat: Terrestrial and climbing on open slopes in drainage ditches, widespread, tropical
Elevation: 0 m

Ala., Fla., Mexico, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Plants in Florida tend to be depauperate when compared to tropical populations; individual leaves are smaller and plants seldom form dense thickets. Dicranopteris flexuosa appears to be a natural element in the flora (J. R. Burkhalter 1985; R. Moyroud and C. E. Nauman 1989). Plants may not persist very long, however, as evidenced by Alabama and some Florida populations that are no longer extant.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa