Lygodium microphyllum

(Cavanilles) R. Brown

Prodr. 162. 1810.

Common names: Small-leaved climbing fern
Introduced
Basionym: Ugena microphylla Cavanilles Icon. 6: 76, plate 595. 1801
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 2. Treatment on page 116.

Stems creeping. Leaves to ca. 10 m. Petioles borne 2-5 mm apart, 7-25 cm. Sterile pinnae on 0.5-1.5 cm stalks, oblong, 1-pinnate, 5-12 × 3-6 cm; ultimate segments triangular-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, truncate to shallowly cordate or somewhat auriculate proximally, usually not lobed, but if lobed, lobes rounded at apex and not directed toward leaf apex; segment apex rounded-acute to obtuse; segments articulate to petiolules, leaving wiry stalks when detached; blade tissue glabrous abaxially. Fertile pinnae on 0.5-1 cm stalks, oblong, 1-pinnate, 3-14 × 2.5-6 cm; ultimate segments ovate to lanceolate-oblong, fringed with fertile lobes, otherwise similar to sterile segments.


Habitat: Terrestrial on riverbanks, swamps (especially cypress swamps), cabbage palm hammocks, and other wet, disturbed sites.

Discussion

Lygodium microphyllum is native to southeastern Asia and recently naturalized. The species may be very abundant locally and may climb to a height of 9 meters in trees. Sometimes it forms thick mats covering considerable areas at ground level (J. Beckner 1968; C. E. Nauman and D. F. Austin 1978).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Lygodium microphyllum"
Clifton E. Nauman +
(Cavanilles) R. Brown +
Ugena microphylla +
Small-leaved climbing fern +
Fla. +  and Asia. +
Terrestrial on riverbanks, swamps (especially cypress swamps), cabbage palm hammocks, and other wet, disturbed sites. +
Introduced +
Lygodium microphyllum +
Lygodium +
species +