Pleopeltis astrolepis

(Liebmann) E. Fournier

Mexic. Pl. 1: 87. 1872.

Common names: Star-scaled fern
Illustrated
Basionym: Polypodium astrolepis Liebmann Kongel. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Skr., Naturvidensk. Math. Afd., ser. 5, 1: 185. 1849
Synonyms: Grammitis elongata Swartz (not Polypodium elongatum Aiton) Grammitis lanceolata Schkuhr Grammitis revoluta Sprengel ex Willdenow Pleopeltis revoluta (Sprengel ex Willdenow) A. R. Smith
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 2.

Stems long-creeping, branched, ca. 1 mm diam.; scales round to ovate-lanceolate, centrally clathrate with cell luminae clear, pubescent, hairs reddish brown. Leaves to 20 cm, weakly hygroscopic. Petiole conspicuously flattened, sparsely scaly; scales rarely overlapping, margins fringed. Blade linear-elliptic, simple, to 2 cm wide, margins entire, moderately scaly abaxially, sparsely scaly adaxially; scales bicolored, mostly round, less than 0.5 mm wide, centers brown, clathrate, margins transparent, deeply fringed. Venation complexly anastomosing, fertile areoles with several included veinlets. Sori oval to oblong, discrete or often confluent, surficial to shallowly embossed, soral scales attached to receptacle. Spores shallowly and irregularly papillate to verrucose, ca. 58 µm. 2n = 136.


Habitat: Epiphytic in swamps on pond apple (Annona glabra Linnaeus)
Elevation: 0 m

Distribution

V2 422-distribution-map.gif

Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Pleopeltis astrolepis is a common species in tropical America, including the West Indies. The only known North American locality, in Broward County, Florida, was discovered in 1977, and (in 1992) the plants are in danger of extirpation from development.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Pleopeltis astrolepis"
Elisabeth G. Andrews +  and Michael D. Windham +
(Liebmann) E. Fournier +
Polypodium astrolepis +
Star-scaled fern +
Fla. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +  and South America. +
Epiphytic in swamps on pond apple (Annona glabra Linnaeus) +
Illustrated +
Grammitis elongata +, Grammitis lanceolata +, Grammitis revoluta +  and Pleopeltis revoluta +
Pleopeltis astrolepis +
Pleopeltis +
species +