Nephrolepis pendula (Raddi) J. Sm.

Hovenkamp PH & Miyamoto F, 2005, A conspectus of the native and naturalized species of Nephrolepis (Nephrolepidaceae) in the world, Blumea 50, pp. 279-322 : 308

16. Nephrolepis pendula (Raddi) J. Sm. - Map 6

Nephrolepis pendula (Raddi) J. Sm. (1842a) 197 ; Fée (1852) 319; Brack. (1854) 211; Nauman (1992) 288; Mickel & A.R. Sm. (2004) 408. - Aspidium pendulum Raddi (1819) 11 . - Nephrodium pendulum (Raddi) Desv. (1827) 252 . - Nephrolepis tuberosa (Bory) C. Presl var. pendula (Raddi) Hook. (1862) 151 . - Nephrolepis pectinata (Willd.) Schott subsp. pendula (Raddi) Jenman (1896) 261 . - Type: Raddi s.n. ( FI, K, US), Brasil.

Nephrodium crenatum Desv. (1827) 252 . - Nephrolepis crenata (Desv.) Fee (1845) 14, pl. 1, f. 19 . - Type: Anon. s.n. ( P n.v., photograph BM).

Habit, rhizome morphology. Plants epiphytic, epilithic or terrestrial (most frequently epiphytic), forming tufts of 3-5 fronds. Runners 0.2-0.8 mm thick, medium to dark brown, black or purple-black, wiry. Scales on runners very sparse, loosely spreading. Tubers absent. Fronds 25-225 by 2-14 cm, stipe 2-36 cm long. Lamina base reduced, tapering over 15-25 cm, basal pinnae 0.5-1.9 cm long, 1.5-3 cm distant, middle pinnae slightly to distinctly falcate. Sterile pinnae herbaceous, thick, base slightly to strongly unequal, basiscopic base cuneate, truncate or rounded, acroscopic base truncate or cordate, not to distinctly auricled, margin in basal part entire or crenate, towards apex serrate or dentate, apex rounded or acute. Fertile pinnae 1.6-6.8 by 0.4-1.3 cm, otherwise similar to sterile ones. Indument. Basal scales peltate, appressed or spreading, 0.6-4 by 0.1-0.8 mm, central part dark brown or blackish, shining, hyaline margin absent or narrow, marginal glands absent, margin in basal part dentate or ciliate, in acumen dentate or ciliate. Rachis scales very sparse or sparse, without a distinctly protracted acumen, appressed, hyaline or light brown. Scales on lamina absent. Hairs on lamina and costa absent. Sori submarginal, 7-12 pairs on fully fertile pinnae, round or elongated, not impressed. Indusium lunulate or broad, attached at broad base. Spores with coarse irregular ridges.

Distribution - Throughout the Neotropics from Cuba to Brazil.

Habitat & Ecology - Most frequently epiphytic, but also terrestrial or epilithic, in generally moist habitats such as cloud forests, occasionally on roadsides or very open habitats. Sea level to 4300 m.

Note - A characteristically glabrous species with long pendulous fronds, lustrous stipes, without scales whatsoever in many specimens (where present, with very long marginal appendages), with nearly marginal sori, and with indusia with broad base or wide sinus.