Vines and Climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Lomagramma guianensis (Aubl.) Ching, Amer. Fern J. 22: 17. 1932.

Fig. 10A-B

Basionym: Polypodium guianense Aubl.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes climbing by aerial roots, reddish brown, 3-7 mm wide, with deltoidattenuate scales, 1-1.5 mm long. Fronds horizontal or pendulous. Sterile fronds 0.45-1 m long; stipes 6-20 cm long, dark brown, glabrous or with some scattered scales; rachis cylindrical toward the base, narrowly winged toward the apex; pinnae 20-50, alternate or subopposite, elliptical to lanceolate, chartaceous, 6-14 × 1-2.3 cm, the apex long-acuminate, the base cuneate, unequal, the margins serrate, glabrous or with some scattered hairs on the lower surface; midvein prominent on both surfaces, secondary venation reticulate, slightly prominent, yellowish. Fertile fronds smaller than the sterile ones; pinnae linear, 2-5 × 2-4 mm, the apex obtuse, the base obtuse; lower surface densely covered with ferruginous sporangia.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in May.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Proctor, G.R. 41108; Sintenis, P. 426; 526.
less ↑

Gleichenia brevipubis C. Chr., Bull. Herb. Boissier Ser. 2, 6: 280. 1906.

Fig. 9. D

Synonym: Sticherus brevipubis (C. Chr.) A.R. Sm.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes creeping, reddish brown, glabrous or with some scattered shortciliate scales. Fronds clambering or decumbent, 1-2 m in length, forming a dense thicket, difficult to penetrate; pinnae 2-3 times bifurcate, sparsely covered with scales in the bifurcation; rachis cylindrical, glabrescent, the primary rachis with proleptic indeterminate growth, the secondary ones short; terminal pinnae 20-35 cm long, with a few brown-purple, short-ciliate, and deciduous scales along the midvein on the lower surface; secondary pinnules oblong-deltoid, the apex obtuse; the upper surface glabrous; the lower surface white-woolly. Sori ferruginous.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in August.

Status: Native, rare.

Selected Specimens Examined: Proctor, G.R. 39420; 41419.
less ↑

Gleichenia bifida (Willd.) Spreng., Syst. Veg. ed. 16, 4: 27. 1827.

Fig. 9. A-C

Basionym: Mertensia bifida Willd.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes creeping, reddish brown, with attenuate, ciliate scales at the apex. Fronds clambering or decumbent, 1-2 m in length, forming a dense thicket difficult to penetrate; pinnae 3 times bifurcate, with small accessory pinnae and densely covered with scales in the bifurcation; rachis cylindrical, those of the young pinnae covered with pale brown ciliate scales; primary rachis with proleptic indeterminate growth, the secondary ones short; terminal pinnae 20-35 × 3-5 cm, the midvein densely covered with ferruginous scales on the lower surface; secondary pinnules oblong-deltoid, the apex obtuse; upper surface glabrous; lower surface densely covered with ferruginous scales. Sori ferruginous.

Phenology: Probably found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9322; 9373; 9447; 10218; 10524; Britton, N.L. 503; 5389; 6561; 7573; Cowles, H.T. 399; Eggers, B. 1202; Gaibee; Goll, G.P. 413; 435; 929; Hioram, B. 283; Proctor, G.R. 39418; Shafer, J.A. 3422; Sintenis, P. 429; 1769; 3988; Stimson 1282; Underwood, L.M. 288; 330; Webster, G.L. 8627.
less ↑

Blechnum fragile (Liebm.) C. V. Morton & Lellinger, Amer. Fern J. 57: 68. 1967.

Fig. 5. A-C

BASIONYM: Lomaria fragilis Liebm.

Slightly woody fern, hemiepiphytic, scandent by means of adventitious roots, attaining 2 m in length. Rhizomes thick, 0.8-1.5 cm wide, densely covered with subulate, slihtly undulate, ciliate, ferruginous scales, 8-17 mm long. Fronds more or less clustered, arching, ascendent or pendulous, dimorphic; blades pinnate, membranaceous. Sterile fronds 40-60 × 4-12 cm, with an elliptical outline, the apex acuminate or caudate, the base acute (the pinnae gradually reduced in size toward the base); pinnae 25-75 pairs, oblong-deltate, the apex acuminate, the margins revolute, sometimes with minute callus-like projections; the upper surface dull, with a prominent midvein; the lower surface dull, paler than the upper surface, with a prominent midvein; stipe 10-18 cm long, blackish or brown, with some vestigial pinnae. Fertile fronds slightly smaller than the sterile ones; pinnae 28-41 pairs, linear; indusia half as wide as the pinna.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, commonCollections Examined:Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3064; 7815; 7828; 10864; 11446.
less ↑

Dicranopteris pectinata (Willd.) Underw., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 34: 260. 1907.

Fig. 8. F-G

Basionym: Mertensia pectinata Willd.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes creeping, scabrous, light brown, with deciduous articulate hairs. Fronds clambering or decumbent, 1-2 m long, forming a dense thicket difficult to penetrate; pinnae unequally bifurcate, with a tuft of rigid, reddish trichomes in the area of bifurcation, but without accessory pinnae or these only in the primary bifurcations; axes cylindrical and brittle, primary rachis proleptic, with sympodial growth, tertiary rachis with two narrow longitudinal keels; leaf segments oblong-deltoid, the secondary venation 3-5 times bifurcate, the apex retuse, the margins revolute; lower surface glaucous, glabrous, or sometimes stellate-pubescent. Sori yellowish, 0.5-0.7 mm in diameter.

Phenology: Probably found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7120; 9333; 9372; Britton, N.L. 584; Cowgill 630; Cowles, H.T. 398; Goll, G.P. 438; 938; Proctor, G.R. 39503; 41133; Sintenis, P. 1768; Underwood, L.M. 266.
less ↑

Dicranopteris flexuosa (Schrad.) Underw., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 34: 254. 1907.

Fig. 8. A-E

Basionym: Mertensia flexuosa Schrad.

Synonym: Gleichenia flexuosa (Schrad.) Mett.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes creeping, with deciduous setose trichomes. Fronds clambering or decumbent, 1-2 m long, forming a dense thicket difficult to penetrate; pinnae 4 times bifurcate, with a pair of accessory pinnae of reduced size and a tuft of rigid, reddish trichomes in the area of bifurcation; rachis cylindrical and brittle, the primary rachis with proleptic indeterminate growth, the secondary or tertiary rachis of determinate growth, the latter angular; secondary pinnules oblong-deltoid to linear, glabrous, the secondary venation 2-4 times bifurcate, the apex obtuse, the margins revolute; lower surface pale green, glabrous. Sori reddish brown, 0.2-0.4 mm in diameter.

Phenology: Probably found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9427; 9448; Britton, N.L. 8126; Heller, A.A. 4353; Hioram, B. 329; Proctor, G.R. 39416; 41104; 41158; Stevenson, J.A. 227; 3259; Underwood, L.M. 1286.
less ↑

Odontosoria aculeata (L.) J. Sm., Cult. Ferns 67. 1857.

Fig. 7. A-C

Basionym: Adiantum aculeatum L.

Synonyms: Davallia aculeata (L.) Sm.

Davallia dumosa Sw.

Clambering fern. Rhizomes short, creeping, densely covered with reddish brown scales at the apex. Fronds 2-3-pinnate, glabrous, clambering, up to 3 m in length; pinnae numerous, opposite, 20-40 cm long, ovate-deltoid; pinnules alternate; secondary pinnules (2) 3 (5) times laciniate, cuneiform, the apex usually revolute; rachis spiny.

Phenology: Probably found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 2095; 7146; 9321; 9434. Britton, N.L. 505; 1074; 1612; 6079; Cowles, H.T. 255; Dale 5; Fisher, M.J. 71; Goll, G.P. 402; 403; 433; Heller, A.A. 126; Hioram, B. 108; Proctor, G.R. 39398; Shafer, J.A. 3146; Sintenis, P. 169; 2172; Underwood, L.M. 25; Vélez, I. 1050.
less ↑

Oleandra articulata (Sw.) C. Presl, Tent. Pterid. 78. 1836.

Fig. 5. D-E

Basionym: Aspidium articulatum Sw.

Synonym: Oleandra nodosa (Willd.) C. Presl

Herbaceous fern, epiphytic or climbing by adventitious roots, attaining 5 m in length. Rhizomes slender, densely covered with lanceolate, ferruginous scales. Fronds pendulous; blades (15) 23-39 (42) × (2.5) 3-6 cm, membranaceous, oblong, elliptical, or sublanceolate, the apex acute, acuminate, or caudate, the base acute or acuminate, sometimes unequal, the margin crenulate or crenate, slightly revolute and ferruginous; the upper surface shiny, with a prominent, sulcate midvein; the lower surface dull, with a prominent, blackish or shiny gray midvein, covered with ferruginous scales; stipe (4) 8-16 cm long, blackish or gray, glabrous, articulated near the base. Sori circular, light brown, distributed along both sides of the midvein.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Collections Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 6967; 7739; 9324; Britton, N.L. 2060; 2204; 6863; 7570; Cowles, H.T. 406; Dale 51; Eggers, B. 1209; Heller, A.A. 1072; 4613; Hioram, B. 351; Johnston, J.R. 765; Otero, J. 52; Sargent, F.H. 604; Shafer, J.A. 3459; Sintenis, P. 1002; 1780; Webster, G.L. 8698.
less ↑

Hypolepis nigrescens Hook., Sp. Fil. 2: 66, t. 90c. 1852.

Fig. 6. A

Clambering fern. Rhizomes branched, dark brown, pubescent. Fronds 4-pinnate-pinnatifid, with indeterminate growth, 5-10 m long; blades chartaceous, narrowly oblong-lanceolate in outline; upper surface glabrous or less frequently puberulent; lower surface with scattered hairs along the main veins; pinnae opposite or subopposite, broadly lanceolate, up to 35 cm long;primary pinnules alternate; blades 18-24 cm long; stipe and rachis reddish to dark brown, with numerous dark brown straight or recurved spines. Sori circular, submarginal; indusia very narrow, glabrous.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in February, July, and eptember.

Status: Native, rare.

Collections Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9433; 11457; Proctor, G.R. 40131; 40629; Sargent, F.H. 3154. Hypolepis repens: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7740; Proctor, G.R. 39399; 39644; 40628; 41285.
less ↑

Hypolepis repens (L.) C. Presl, Tent. Pterid. 162. 1836.

Fig. 6. B

Basionym: Lonchitis repens L.

Synonym: Hypolepis aculeata (Spreng.) J. Sm.

Clambering fern. Rhizome covered with brown hairs. Fronds ascending, clambering or arching, 3-pinnate-pinnatifid, 2-4 m long; blades coriaceous, triangular in outline, up to 1.5 m wide; upper surface with scattered hairs along the midvein; lower surface shiny, pubescent; pinnae lanceolate-triangular, 20-50 cm long; primary pinnules subopposite, 7-22 cm longstipe and rachis yellowish or light brown, with straight spines, the stipe darker toward the base. Sori circular, submarginal; indusia membranaceous, whitish, subentire.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in August and September.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7740; Proctor, G.R. 39399; 39644; 40628; 41285.
less ↑

Lomariopsis kunzeana (Underw.) Holttum, Kew Bull. 1939: 617. 1940.

Fig. 10. D

Basionym: Stenochlaena kunzeana Underw.

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes climbing by aerial roots, light brown, slightly compressed or obtusely triangular, with longitudinal keels, 5-10 mm wide, sparsely covered with ferruginous, lanceolatecaudate scales, 2-5 mm long. Sterile fronds 40-90 cm long; stipes 8-18 cm long, light brown, sulcate, with some scattered glandular hairs and scales; rachis narrowly winged; pinnae 20-46, alternate or subopposite, lanceolate, chartaceous, 4-11 × 1-1.5 cm, the apex acuminate, the base cuneate, equilateral, the margins acutely incisedserrate, slightly revolute; the upper surface glabrous, the midvein compressed; lower surface puberulent, the midvein rather prominent, yellowish, the secondary venation conspicuous, parallel, free. Fertile fronds smaller than the sterile ones; pinnae oblong, 4-8 mm wide, the apex acute, the base obtuse; lower surface densely covered with light brown sporangia.

Phenology: Collected in fertile condition in July and August.

Status: Native, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Britton, E.G. 5215; Underwood, L.M. & Griggs 843.
less ↑

Microgramma piloselloides (L.) Copel., Gen. Fil. 185. 1947.

Fig. 11. E-F

Basionym: Polypodium piloselloides L.

Epiphytic or less frequently terrestrial fern. Rhizomes scandent by aerial roots, up to 4 m long, more or less cylindrical, 0.5-1 mm wide, more or less covered with divaricate, ferruginous, attenuate scales that are 3-4 mm long and caudate at the apex. Fronds dimorphic, the sterile ones elliptical or elliptical-lanceolate, 1.5-8 × 1-1.8 cm. Fertile fronds 3.5-10 × 0.3-1.1 cm; stipes slender, 1.5-4 cm long, light brown, glabrous; blades entire, chartaceous, oblong or linear-lanceolate, sparsely covered with minute, ferruginous, subulate scales, the midvein prominent on the lower surface, the secondary venation conspicuous, loosely reticulate, the apex obtuse, the base long-attenuate, the margins entire or slightly crenate. Sori rounded, ferruginous, forming a row on each side of the midvein; paraphyses longer than the sporangia.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, quite common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 200; 3039; 9319; 10810.
less ↑

Microgramma lycopodioides (L.) Copel., Gen. Fil. 185. 1947.

Fig. 11. C-D

Basionym: Polypodium lycopodioides L.

Epiphytic or less frequently epilithic fern. Rhizomes scandent by aerial roots, 1-2 m in length, more or less cylindrical, 2-4 mm wide, densely covered with appressed, ferruginous, linear-attenuate scales, 6-10 mm long, peltate above the base, caudate at the apex. Fronds 5-13 × 0.5-2 cm; stipes slender, up to 5 mm long, yellowish to light brown, glabrous; blades entire, coriaceous, lanceolate or elliptical, glabrous, the midvein prominent, the secondary venation conspicuous, loosely reticulate, the apex obtuse or acute, the base long-attenuate, the margins entire or slightly crenate. Sori rounded, ferruginous, forming a row on each side of the midvein; paraphyses inconspicuous.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, quite common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 263; 9412; 11653; Britton, N.L. 4129; 7289; Fosberg, F.R. 51334; Goll, G.P. 404; 617; Heller, A.A. 1369; 4476; 6235; Proctor, G.R. 39396; 40837; Sargent, F.H. 102; Shafer, J.A. 3152; 3615; Sintenis, P. 1784; 2834; Stimson 1237; Underwood, L.M. 70; 292.
less ↑

Microgramma heterophylla (L.) Wherry, South. Fern Guide 346. 1964.

Fig. 11. A-B

Basionym: Polypodium heterophyllum L.

Synonym: Polypodium serpens Sw.

Polypodium exiguum Heward Epiphytic or less frequently epilithic fern. Rhizomes scandent by minute aerial roots, 1-2 m long, filiform, cylindrical, 0.5-2 mm wide, densely covered with appressed, ferruginous, attenuate scales, 5-7 mm long, peltate above the base. Fronds dimorphic, 3-19 × 0.4-1.7 cm; stipes slender, 4-20 mm long, yellowish to light brown, glabrous; blades entire, chartaceous, elliptical, oblong or lanceolate, glabrous, the midvein prominent, the secondary venation conspicuous, widely reticulate, the apex obtuse or acute, the base long-attenuate, the margins crenate. Sori rounded, ferruginous, forming a row on each side of the midvein; paraphyses inconspicuous.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, quite common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 1907; 2037; 10891.
less ↑

Lygodium japonicum (Thunb. ex Murray) Sw., J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800: 106. 1802.

Fig. 12. A-C

Basionym: Ophioglossum japonicum Thunb. ex MurrayClambering fern. Rhizomes elongate, creeping, slender, densely pubescent. Fronds tripinnate, puberulent, clambering, 1-2 m in length; pinnae bifurcate, with a tuft of trichomes in the area of bifurcation; rachis subcylindrical, with two longitudinal keels, glabrous or puberulent, the primary rachis with indeterminate growth, the secondary ones very short, the tertiary ones narrowly winged, up to 5 cm long; secondary pinnae 5-7 cm long, the distal ones 3-5-dissected, the basal ones pinnately compound; secondary pinnules puberulent, oblong, elongate, with prominent venation, the apex obtuse to rounded. Sporangia on the lower surface of digitiform marginal projections of the basal secondary pinnules or on fertile pinnae, markedly dissectedlobed; indusium forming a small pocket, which opens toward the apex of the leaf blade.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Exotic, naturalized, uncommon.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 10849.
less ↑

Polypodium loriceum L., Sp. Pl. 1086. 1753.

Fig. 11. G

Terrestrial fern. Rhizomes scandent by aerial roots, 1-2 m in length, greenish or whitish, with light brown spots, cylindrical, 2-5 mm wide, sparsely covered with appressed, light brown, oblong-circular, peltate scales, 2-4 mm long. Fronds 30-80 × 5.5-15(25) cm; stipes 7-24(39)cm long, yellowish to light brown, slightly sulcate, glabrous; blades chartaceous, oblong-deltate or deltate-lanceolate, deeply pinnatisect; segments 15-40 pairs, alternate or subopposite, oblongdeltate, the apex acuminate, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous, the midvein compressed; lower surface glabrous or puberulent, with the venation somewhat prominent, yellowish, the secondary venation conspicuous, reticulate. Sori rounded, yellowish, forming a row (rarely two) on each side of the midvein.

Phenology: Apparently in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 7826; 10523; 10871.
less ↑