Nephrolepis pectinata (Willd.) Schott - Map, 1834

Hovenkamp PH & Miyamoto F, 2005, A conspectus of the native and naturalized species of Nephrolepis (Nephrolepidaceae) in the world, Blumea 50, pp. 279-322 : 307-308

15. Nephrolepis pectinata (Willd.) Schott - Map 3c

Nephrolepis pectinata (Willd.) Schott (1834) ad. pl. 3 ; Pic. Serm. (1969) 272; Nauman (1992) 288; Mickel & A.R. Sm. (2004) 407. - Aspidium pectinatum Willd. (1810) 223 . - Nephrodium pectinatum (Willd.) Sweet (1826) 462 ; Link (1833) 125. - Type: Willdenow 19753 ( Willdenow herb., B), without locality.

Nephrolepis schkuhrii Fee var. minor Fee (1852) 319. - Type: Linden 1881 ( G), Cuba.

Habit, rhizome morphology. Plants epiphytic, epilithic or terrestrial, forming tufts of 3-7 fronds. Runners 0.1-0.4 mm thick, branching angle narrow. Scales on runners very sparse or sparse, appressed or spreading. Tubers absent. Fronds 14-81 by 1-6 cm, stipe 1-15 cm long. Lamina base strongly reduced, tapering over 10-20 cm, basal pinnae 0.3-1.3 cm long, 1-1.5 cm distant, middle pinnae straight to distinctly falcate (rarely). Sterile pinnae herbaceous, thin, base strongly unequal to fully one-sided, basiscopic base narrowly cuneate or cuneate, acroscopic base truncate or rounded, distinctly auricled, margin in basal part entire, towards apex dentate, apex rounded or obtuse. Fertile pinnae 0.7-2.9 by 0.3-0.8 cm, otherwise similar to sterile ones. Indument. Basal scales peltate, 1-3.2 by 0.2-0.7 mm, central part dark brown or blackish, dull, margin not hyaline, in basal part irregularly lacerate, dentate or ciliate, in acumen denticulate to ciliate, marginal glands absent. Rachis scales sparse, light brown, appressed or spreading, with a well-developed protracted dentate or ciliate acumen. Scales on lamina absent. Hairs on lamina and costa absent. Sori submarginal or medial, 3-6 pairs on fully fertile pinnae, round or elongated, not impressed. Indusium lunulate or broad, attached at broad base.

Distribution - Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, throughout Central America, southern Mexico, western South America south to Peru, Bolivia (one specimen), Brazil (one specimen, without locality).

Habitat & Ecology - Occurs in a variety of habitats, from dense to open sites, frequently on or among rocks. From sea level to 2470 m, mainly between 500-1500 m.

Notes - Nephrolepis pectinata is very similar to the Palaeotropical N. lauterbachii , but can be distinguished from that species by the lighter and more deciduous rachis scales (persistent only in tufts near the pinnae-bases, and these strongly lacerate), and the runners not or only rarely bearing small plants. In addition, the rhizome of N. pectinata tends to become horizontal and more or less dorsiventral with age. It may be confused with N. cordifolia and N. occidentalis , especially the distinction from N. cordifolia may sometimes give problems, as the only constant character appears to be the character of the pinna shape and the absence of tubers, the presence of which is not always clear in specimens of N. cordifolia.

Two cytotypes have been reported for this species, and according to Naumann (1985) the cytological polymorphism is correlated with a morphological one, the diploid form being distinctly larger than the more widespread tetraploid one.