Thelypteris reptans
Fieldiana, Bot. 28: 12. 1951.
Stems creeping to suberect, 2–3 mm diam. Leaves somewhat dimorphic, evergreen, laxly arching or prostrate, sterile leaves often rooting at attenuate apices or along rachises, mostly (10–)15–55 cm, fertile leaves more erect and with longer petioles, not rooting, with more contracted pinnules. Petiole green, 1–25 cm × 0.5–1 mm, at base sparsely set with brown, lanceolate, stellate-hairy scales. Blade usually 10–30 cm, pinnate in proximal half only or throughout, narrowed distally to pinnatifid apex. Pinnae entire to crenate to shallowly lobed ca. 1/3 of width, 1–2.5(–5) × 0.3–1(–1.5) cm, sometimes subcordate at base; proximal pairs from adjacent segments usually united with excurrent vein or veins free. Indument abaxially of stellate, forked, and needlelike hairs on rachises, costae, veins, and blade tissue; blade tissue adaxially also with stellate hairs. Sori round, medial to supramedial; indusia minute or lacking; sporangia with stellate hairs. 2n = 144.
Habitat: Limestone rocks and grottoes, damp woods
Elevation: 0–50 m
Distribution
Fla., s Mexico, West Indies, Central America in Guatemala, South America in n Venezuela.
Discussion
Selected References
None.