Nephrolepis pendula
Nephrolepis pendula C.Presl
Nephrolepis pendula is a fern species in the family Nephrolepidaceae, native to a wide range of tropical and subtropical regions. It is primarily epiphytic, though it can also be terrestrial or epilithic, growing in moist habitats such as cloud forests. It is found from sea level up to 4300 meters in elevation and is distributed across Central and South America, as well as the Galápagos Islands and parts of the Caribbean.
Description
Nephrolepis pendula forms small tufts with 3–5 fronds, with runners that are wiry and dark in color. The fronds are 25–225 mm long and 2–14 mm wide, with stipes up to 36 mm long. The lamina tapers gradually, with distinct falcate middle pinnae. Sterile and fertile pinnae are herbaceous and thick, with serrate to dentate margins. The sori are submarginal and round or elongated, with lunulate or broad indusia. This species is characterized by its glabrous nature, long pendulous fronds, and lustrous stipes, often lacking scales except for some with long marginal appendages.
Distribution
BR · Parque Nacional Natural Los Katíos · California | Puerto Wilches | Sucre · Galápagos Islands · Antioquia, Caldas, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Santander · Cuenca de Río Claro · Belize · Bolivia · Brazil Northeast · Brazil North · Brazil Southeast · Brazil South · Brazil West-Central · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · Ecuador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico Gulf · Mexico Southeast · Mexico Southwest · Nicaragua · Panamá · Peru · Puerto Rico · Suriname · Venezuelan Antilles
Synonyms
Aspidium pendulumNephrodium pendulumNephrolepis tuberosa var. pendulaNephrolepis pectinata subsp. pendulaNephrolepis cordifolia var. pendula