Thelypteris inabonensis
Encyclopedia
Thelypteris inabonensis is a rare species of fern
known by the common name cordillera maiden fern. It is endemic to Puerto Rico
, where it is known from only two localities. It is a federally listed endangered species
of the United States.
This fern was first described in 1985. It was placed on the endangered species list in 1993. At that time it was known to exist at two locations in the mountain forests of Puerto Rico, one near the Río Inabón
in the Toro Negro Commonwealth Forest and one on Cerro Rosa
in Ciales
. In total there were about 46 individual plants counted.
This terrestrial fern has fronds up to 60 centimeters long divided into 25 or 30 pairs of lightly hairy segments. The sori
are arranged around the veins on the undersides. They are covered with hairy indusia.
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
known by the common name cordillera maiden fern. It is endemic to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, where it is known from only two localities. It is a federally listed endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of the United States.
This fern was first described in 1985. It was placed on the endangered species list in 1993. At that time it was known to exist at two locations in the mountain forests of Puerto Rico, one near the Río Inabón
Río Inabón
Río Inabón is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. With a length of some , it is Ponce's second longest river after Rio Jacaguas. It is fed by the Río Anón, Río Guayo and the Emajagua Brook. It it also fed by Rio Bacas and Rio de las Raices. This river is one of the 14 rivers in the...
in the Toro Negro Commonwealth Forest and one on Cerro Rosa
Cerro Rosa
Cerro Rosa is the third highest peak of Puerto Rico measuring above sea level. The mountain is located in the Cordillera Central, on the border between the municipalities of Ciales and Jayuya....
in Ciales
Ciales, Puerto Rico
Ciales is a municipality of Puerto Rico, located on the Central Mountain Range, northwest of Orocovis; south of Florida and Manatí; east of Utuado and Jayuya; and west of Morovis. Ciales is spread over eight wards and Ciales Pueblo...
. In total there were about 46 individual plants counted.
This terrestrial fern has fronds up to 60 centimeters long divided into 25 or 30 pairs of lightly hairy segments. The sori
Sorus
A sorus is a cluster of sporangia .In fungi and lichens, the sorus is surrounded by an external layer. In some red algae it may take the form of a depression into the thallus....
are arranged around the veins on the undersides. They are covered with hairy indusia.