Vines and Climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

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.
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