Acrostichum

Kessler, Michael, Smith, Alan R. & Prado, Jefferson, 2017, Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XXVII. Pteridaceae, Phytotaxa 332 (3), pp. 201-250 : 217-218

Acrostichum L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1067. 1753.

A genus of swamps and marshy areas, where it can form extensive , tall, dense stands. A pantropical genus of three species, with two species in the Neotropics (PPG I 2016). Adams & Tomlinson (1979) studied the differences between A. aureum L. and A. danaeifolium , the sole Bolivian species, in Florida; García de López (1978) treated the same two species in the Dominican Republic. The blades are 1-pinnate in all species, and the fronds either hemidimorphic, with fertile pinnae confined to the distal portion of the blades, or fronds dimorphic, entirely fertile or sterile. The sporangia are acrostichoid (completely covering the abaxial surfaces of the fertile pinnae). Monophyletic and sister to Ceratopteris (Schuettpelz et al. 2007) .

Acrostichum danaeifolium Langsd. & Fisch., Pl. Voy. Russes Monde 5, t. 1. 1810. Range:— U.S.A. (Florida); Antilles; Mexico south to northwestern Peru, Bolivia (BE, CO, LP, SC), and Brazil.

Ecology: —Locally common; freshwater and brackish swamps, shallow stream margins, road ditches; 150–650(– 1600) m. A study in Mexico has shown that larvae of moths bore galleries into petioles and rachises of this species; these galleries are then inhabited by various ant species (Mehltreter et al. 2003). Mehltreter & Palacios-Rios (2003) conducted phenological studies-fertility, spore release, life span of sterile leaves, and leaf growth-on a population of this species in Veracruz, Mexico.

Notes: —Leaves 2–4 m long, of two kinds, either all fertile or all sterile; blades coriaceous, 1-pinnate; sporangia acrostichoid. The species may be confused only with some species of Meniscium , which may occur in similar habitats, have superficially similar leaves, and whose sori at maturity may be so expanded as to appear acrostichoid, but which have distinct primary veins joined by regularly spaced, arched, connecting veins, and acicular hairs on the blades. Lloyd & Gregg (1975) studied the reproductive biology of this species.