Grammitis nimbata

(Jenman) Proctor

Bull. Inst. Jamaica, Sci. Ser. 5: 34. 1953.

Illustrated
Basionym: Polypodium nimbatum Jenman J. Bot. 24: 271. 1886
Synonyms: Xiphopteris nimbata (Jenman) Copeland
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 2.

Stems erect, apices bearing scales; scales lustrous yellow to brownish, concolored, 0.5–1 mm, margins stiffly ciliate. Leaves densely fasciculate, 3–7 cm. Petiole 2–7 × 0.5 mm, densely hairy; hairs dark reddish or brownish, 0.8–1 mm. Blade linear, pinnatifid ca. 2/3 to rachis, narrowed and short-decurrent proximally, 3–5 mm wide; rachises and blade tissue on both sides with crowded, spreading setae like those of petiole or longer. Segments mostly in 20–30 pairs, oblique-spreading, oblong, 0.8–1.2 mm wide with entire margins. Veins concealed abaxially, unbranched, or fertile segments sometimes with single acroscopic branch, veins ending in hydathodes on adaxial surface. Sori round, 1 per segment, arising near base of acroscopic veinlet; sporangia glabrous.


Habitat: On moist cliffs behind falls
Elevation: ca. 500–1000 m

Distribution

V2 711-distribution-map.gif

N.C., West Indies in Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola

Discussion

Grammitis nimbata was discovered in the United States in Macon County, North Carolina, at a single locality, in 1966 (D. R. Farrar 1967) and has persisted to the present (D. R. Farrar, in litt. 1989). Primarily, the colony is gametophytic and reproduces by microscopic gemmae borne on the elongate-cordate thallus, but sterile sporophytes have been found in favorable years. The species description and illustration are based on mature spore-bearing plants from the Greater Antilles. The largest plants found from North Carolina are less than 3 cm.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Grammitis nimbata"
Alan R. Smith +
(Jenman) Proctor +
Polypodium nimbatum +
suberect +  and short-creeping +
short-decurrent +
2-pinnate +  and 1-pinnate +
narrowed +  and pinnatifid +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
N.C. +, West Indies in Cuba +, Jamaica +  and Hispaniola +
ca. 500–1000 m +
multicellular +
aboveground +
On moist cliffs behind falls +
unicellular;multicellular +
brownish +  and dark reddish +
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
monomorphic +
pendent +, arching +  and erect +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
not articulate +, articulate +  and wiry +
dark-colored +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (?) +
Bull. Inst. Jamaica, Sci. Ser. +
dark-colored +
concolored +, yellow +  and brownish +
suberect +  and short-creeping +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
oblique-spreading +
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br />) +
dark reddish-brown +
Illustrated +
tetrahedral-globose +
solenostelic;dictyostelic +
papillate +
Xiphopteris nimbata +
Grammitis nimbata +
Grammitis +
species +
1-forked +
37 +, 36 +, 33 +  and 32 +