Facts about Dudley's Swordfern (Polystichum dudleyi)

Polystichum dudleyi Maxon:
United States (North America)

Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
Lellinger, D. B. 1985. A Field Manual of the Ferns and Fern Allies of the United States and Canada. 389 pp. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1316
Munz, P. A. & D. D. Keck. 1959. Cal. Fl. 1–1681. University of California Press, Berkeley. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1717
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, e. 1993. Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. 2: i–xvi, 1–475. In Fl. N. Amer. Oxford University Press, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/10884

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National Distribution

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

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Morphology

Comments

Polystichum dudleyi is confined to coastal central California. Hybrids with P . californicum are relatively frequent where these species occur together. These hybrids would key here but, unlike P . dudleyi , they are less divided and have aborted sporangia. The sterile diploid hybrid with P . munitum is also frequent in areas of sympatry. It is indistinguishable from P . californicum except for malformed sporangia and chromosome number (W. H. Wagner Jr. 1973).

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Description

Stems erect. Leaves monomorphic, arching, 2--10 dm; bulblets absent. Petiole 1/5--1/3 length of leaf, densely scaly; scales light brown, gradually diminishing in size distally. Blade broadly lanceolate, 2-pinnate, base not narrowed. Pinnae narrowly lanceolate, not overlapping, in 1 plane, 3--13 cm; base oblique, apex acute with subapical and apical teeth same size; microscales filiform, lacking projections, sparse abaxially, but longer than in other Polystichum species, forming loosely tangled network over blade and sori (such network only in this species), sparse adaxially. Pinnules ± stalked, linear-falcate to oblique-rhombic, acroscopic auricle well developed on proximal pinnules; margins spinulose-dentate; apex acute. Indusia ciliate. Spores brown. 2 n = 82.

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Diagnostic Description

Synonym

Polystichum aculeatum (Linnaeus) Roth var. dudleyi (Maxon) Jepson

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Type Information

Holotype for Polystichum dudleyi Maxon
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Verified from the card file of type specimens
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): W. Dudley
Year Collected: 1903
Locality: California, United States, North America

Holotype: Maxon, W. R. 1918. J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 8: 620.

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Source: National Museum of Natural History Image Collection

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Habitat

Comments: Moist, shaded, rocky areas, on canyon slopes and along streams. Terrestrial; found within moist Redwood Forest and Mixed Evergreen Forest communities near the coast. 0 - 500 m.

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Habitat & Distribution

Moist forests; 0--100 m; Calif.

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Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Polystichum dudleyi

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Source: Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)

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Conservation Status

National NatureServe Conservation Status

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

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NatureServe Conservation Status

Rounded Global Status Rank: G2 - Imperiled

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Polystichum dudleyi

Polystichum dudleyi is a species of fern known by the common name Dudley's sword fern. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the forests of the central and southern California Coast Ranges.

Description

The Polystichum dudleyi fern produces several arching leaves up to a meter-3 feet long. Each lance-shaped leaf is made up of many lance-shaped leaflets which are deeply divided into smaller segments.

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