Flora of the Southeastern United States

Polypodium virginianum Linnaeus. Common name: Common Rockcap Fern, Common Rock Polypody. Phenology: Jun-Oct. Habitat: Moist rocks. Distribution: NL west to NT, south to NC, GA, AL, and AR; Greenland.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Haufler and Windham (1991) indicate that the tetraploid cytotype (P. virginianum) of the P. virginianum complex is an allotetraploid derivative of the sterile hybrid of the diploid occurring in our area (P. appalachianum) and another diploid with a boreal distribution (P. sibiricum Siplivinsky). Electrophoretic evidence supports the finding that (Bryan & Soltis 1987, Haufler, Windham, & Rabe 1995). Thus, Polypodium in our area is another classic example of the reticulate evolution of pteridophytes, and the cytotypes warrant recognition as independent species, though their morphological identification is problematic. The chromosome complement of P. virginianum can be symbolized as AASS.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, FNA2, Il, K4, Mo1, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, Tat, Tn, Va, Haufler, Windham, & Rabe (1995); < Polypodium virginianum L. — C, F, GrPl, RAB, Sf, Tat, W, WV; < Polypodium vulgare L. — S13; < Polypodium vulgare L. var. virginianum (L.) Eaton — G. Basionym: Polypodium virginianum L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Polypodium virginianum - FNA2

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Heliophily ⓘ: 3