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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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