Phlebodium aureum (L.) J.Sm.

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

cartagenero, helecho costeño, helecho cuero

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 450–2000 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bogotá DC.

Habit

Herb.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Cartagenero, Helecho costeño, Helecho cuero

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizome creeping, 9–15 mm thick (excluding scales), densely clothed with numerous pale orange or tawny, denticulate-ciliate scales mostly 10–15 mm long, these linear attenuate or filiform from slightly enlarged and darker base attached peltately by a minute brown stalk

Morphology Leaves

Blades ovate-oblong or broadly oblong, 35–100 cm long, 22–45 cm broad, deeply and coarsely pinnatifid, with a long, often much larger terminal segment; segments 6–22 pairs, ligulate or lance-ligulate, 2–3.8 cm broad, obtuse to acuminate at apex, joined at base by a rhachis-wing 2–9 mm wide; margins subentire to minutely and distantly crenulate; veins mostly reticulate, forming a row of oblong to narrowly obdeltate costal areoles without included veinlets, then two uneven and irregular series of larger areoles with included veinlets mixed with smaller areoles lacking included veinlets; veinlets 1–3 (if 2 or 3 usually joined at the tips, or 2 joined and one free), then (toward margin) many smaller areoles of irregular shape and unequal size, some with a single included free veinlet, terminating along the margin in an irregular row of small adaxial hydathodes, these on very short free veinlet tips or at the junction of two veinlets, and each secreting a minute white scale of calcium carbonate; tissue usually green, rarely somewhat glaucous Fronds arching or pendent, 55–170 cm long, seasonally deciduous; stipes shorter than the blades, 20–70 cm long, lustrous dark brown to light reddish- brown, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Sori

Sori round or oval, located at the junction of two intra-areolate veinlets or sometimes at tip of a single free veinlet; very rarely a partial third row of sori present.

Distribution

Grand Cayman. Florida, Bahamas, Greater Antilles (but rare or nearly absent in Jamaica), Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, and continental tropical America. The sole Cayman record came from the rocky forest behind University College of the Cayman Islands.

Ecology

It occurs on trees and mossy ledges.

Recognition

This species has been shown to have originated as a fertile allotetraploid hybrid of Polypodium pseudoaureum and P. decumanum (both diploid). It is more common and widespread than either of its parent species, and often occurs where both are absent.

Vernacular

Calaguala, Calahuala, Polipodio