Thelypteris dentata |
Thelypteris ovata |
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downy maiden fern, downy shield fern, tapering tri-vein fern |
ovate maiden fern, ovate marsh fern |
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Stems | short-creeping, 4–6 mm diam. |
usually long-creeping, 3–6 mm diam. |
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Leaves | often somewhat dimorphic, evergreen, often closely placed, 50–150 cm, fertile leaves with longer petioles and more contracted pinnae. |
monomorphic, evergreen, (0.5–)1–4 cm apart, (30–)55–135(–165) cm. |
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Petiole | often purplish brown, 15–50 cm × 3–6 mm, at base with brown, linear-lanceolate, hairy scales. |
straw-colored, 15–80 cm × 2–6 mm, at base with tan to brownish, linear-lanceolate, hairy scales. |
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Blade | (25–)40–100 cm, 1–4(–6) proximal pairs of pinnae reduced, blade gradually tapered to pinnatifid apex. |
about equaling petiole length, broadest at base, gradually to somewhat abruptly tapered to pinnatifid apex. |
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Pinnae | 7–17 × 1–3 cm, incised 1/2–3/4 of width; segments rounded at apex, basal acroscopic segment of proximal pinnae often auriculate; proximal pair of veins from adjacent segments united at obtuse angle below sinus with excurrent vein 2–4 mm. |
(5–)10–25 × 0.8–2.2 cm, incised 4/5 of width; segments oblique, somewhat curved, basal pair from middle pinnae often elongate parallel to rachis; proximal pair of veins from adjacent segments reaching margin at or just above sinus. |
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Sori | round, medial to supramedial; indusia tan, pubescent, hairs 0.1–0.3 mm; sporangial stalks with orangish, stalked glands. |
round, supramedial to inframarginal; indusia tan, hairy, hairs mostly 0.2–0.4 mm; sporangia glabrous. |
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Indument | abaxially of uniformly short hairs 0.1–0.2 mm on costae, veins, and blade tissue; veins adaxially with stouter hairs, also with hairs 0.1–0.2 mm on blade tissue. |
abaxially of hairs mostly 0.2–0.5 mm on costae, veins, and blade tissue, also sometimes of a few tan scales on costae and rachises; blades adaxially glabrous except along rachises and costae. |
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2n | = 144. |
= 72. |
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Thelypteris dentata |
Thelypteris ovata |
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Habitat | Damp woods | |||||
Elevation | 0–100 m (0–300 ft) | |||||
Distribution |
AL; FL; GA; KY; LA; s Mexico; West Indies in the Antilles; South America to n Argentina; native to tropical and subtropical Asia; Africa [Introduced in North America] |
AL; FL; GA; SC; TX; Mexico; Central America; West Indies
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Discussion | Thelypteris dentata probably does not persist northward in areas (such as Kentucky) where winters are sometimes severe (R. Cranfill 1980). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
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Key |
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Source | FNA vol. 2. | FNA vol. 2. | ||||
Parent taxa | Thelypteridaceae > Thelypteris > subg. Cyclosorus | Thelypteridaceae > Thelypteris > subg. Cyclosorus | ||||
Sibling taxa | ||||||
Subordinate taxa | ||||||
Synonyms | Polypodium dentatum, Christella dentata, Cyclosorus dentatus, Dryopteris dentata, Dryopteris mollis, T. reducta | Christella ovata, Dryopteris ovata | ||||
Name authority | (Forsskål) E. P. St. John: Amer. Fern J. 26: 44. (1936) | R. P. St. John: in Small, Ferns S. E. States 230, with plate. (1938) | ||||
Web links |