Nephrolepis biserrata

Stem scales loosely appressed to spreading, concolored or bicolored with pale margins. Tubers absent. Leaves 2–22 × 0.3–3.5 dm. Petiole 0.2–5.4 dm, sparsely to moderately scaly; scales spreading, reddish to light-brown throughout (rarely with pale margins). Blade sparsely to densely scaly, glabrous or pubescent, hairs mostly on veins and abaxial, pale to light-brown, 0.2–0.7 mm. Rachis 1.8–17 dm, points of pinna attachment 7.5–35 mm apart; scales moderately spaced, pale-brown throughout. Central pinnae narrowly deltate to narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 2.5–23 × 0.5–2 cm, base cuneate, truncate to auriculate-cordate acroscopically, rounded basiscopically, acroscopic lobe small and oblong or absent, margins biserrate to serrulate, apex attenuate; costae adaxially glabrous or densely hairy, hairs erect, pale, 0.3 mm. Indusia circular to horseshoe-shaped, peltate or attached at narrow sinus, 0.8–1.1 mm wide. 2n = 82.

Habitat: Terrestrial or less commonly epiphytic in forested, relatively wet habitats, e.g., swamps, but occasionally thickets, roadsides, or clearings
Elevation: 0 m

Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Africa, se Asia.

Discussion

Some forms of Nephrolepis biserrata closely resemble N. multiflora in pinna shape and indument but lack the distinctively transparent-margined (i.e., bicolored) and persistent petiole scales of the latter species. Nephrolepis multiflora also has more appressed and darker-colored stem scales.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa