Vittaria lineata (Linnaeus) Smith. Shoestring Fern, Grass Fern. Hab: Epiphyte on the bark of trees, especially Sabal palmetto and Quercus virginiana, but the northernmost native site (in Lincoln County, GA) was on rock. Dist: Se. GA and formerly ec. GA south to s. FL; West Indies; c. Mexico south through Central America to n. South America; introduced in e. SC (Beaufort and Jasper counties) and s. AL on landscaping plants.
ID notes: Sporophytic plants have pendant linear leaves, 1-3 mm wide and up to 1 m long, hence the common name.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy: = Bah, Fl1, FNA2, K1, K3, K4, Meso1, S13, Sf, SFla, WH3, Pinson, Chambers, & Sessa (2017); = n/a – RAB
Heliophily ?: 4
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© Alan Cressler: Vittaria lineata, on Sabal palmetto, Oak Hammock Forest, Crew Wildlife Management Area, Collier County, Florida 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Vittaria lineata, Fakahatchee Strand, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Collier County, Florida 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Vittaria lineata, Gametophytes, and Juvenile Sporophytes, on Sabal palmetto, Lower Hillsborough Wildlife Management Area, Hillsborough County, Florida 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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