Thelypteris hispidula var. versicolor

(R. P. St. John) Lellinger

Amer. Fern J. 71: 94. 1981.

Common names: Variable maiden fern St. John's shield fern
Basionym: Thelypteris versicolor (R. P. St. John) Broun in Small, Ferns S.E. States, 250, plate. 1938
Synonyms: Dryopteris versicolor E. P. St. John Thelypteris macilenta (Fée) Schelpe Thelypteris quadrangularis var. versicolor (R. P. St. John) A. R. Smith
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 2.

Stems short-creeping to ascending at apex, 3–5 mm diam. Leaves monomorphic, evergreen, closely placed, (20–) 40–95 cm. Petiole straw-colored, (5–) 10–40 cm × 1.5–3 mm, at base with brown, lanceolate, hairy scales. Blade 14–55 cm, proximal 0–2 (–4) pairs of pinnae slightly to greatly reduced (lowest pinnae to 1/3 length of longest), blade gradually tapered to pinnatifid apex. Pinnae 4–14 × 0.8–2 cm, incised 3/4–4/5 of width; segments spreading or somewhat oblique, rounded at tip, basal acroscopic segment of proximal pinnae sometimes auriculate and crenate; proximal pair of veins from adjacent segments united just below sinus or approaching each other and turning abruptly toward sinus, or connivent at sinus, excurrent vein, if any, 1 mm or less. Indument on both surfaces of densely set hairs 0.2–0.8 mm on costae, veins, and often blade tissue, also often of yellowish, stalked glands 0.1 mm. Sori round, medial to supramedial; indusia hairy; sporangial stalks with inconspicuous stalked, pear-shaped glands. 2n = 72.


Habitat: Woodlands and limestone sinks, especially in seepage areas and along streams
Elevation: 0–100 m

Distribution

V2 824-distribution-map.gif

Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., S.C., Tex., West Indies in Cuba

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"/4" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.

reduced +
Alan R. Smith +
(R. P. St. John) Lellinger +
crenate +  and auriculate +
Thelypteris versicolor +
gradually tapered +  and pinnatifid +
14 cm140 mm <br />0.14 m <br /> (55 cm550 mm <br />0.55 m <br />) +
Variable maiden fern +  and St. John's shield fern +
Ala. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, La. +, Miss. +, S.C. +, Tex. +  and West Indies in Cuba +
0–100 m +
glandular +  and hairy +
stalked;stalked +
inconspicuous +
pear--shaped +
not continuous +
Woodlands and limestone sinks, especially in seepage areas and along streams +
branched +  and simple +
transparent +
ephemeral +  and persistent +
round-reniform +
small +  and large +
monomorphic +
20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
evergreen +
40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br /> (95 cm950 mm <br />0.95 m <br />) +
reticulate +  and echinate +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
straw-colored +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
short-stalked +  and sessile +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (14 cm140 mm <br />0.14 m <br />) +
reduced +
not +  and reduced +
Amer. Fern J. +
lanceolate +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br />) +
hairy +  and glabrous +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
short-creeping;ascending +
Dryopteris versicolor +, Thelypteris macilenta +  and Thelypteris quadrangularis var. versicolor +
Thelypteris hispidula var. versicolor +
Thelypteris hispidula +
variety +
crescent--shaped +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (?) +
on rock +  and terrestrial +