Pteris multifida

Family:PTERIDACEAE
Species:Pteris multifida Poir.
Common Name:Spider Brake; Wall Brake; Huguenot Fern
Habitat:Often found growing in cracks of older masonry walls or less commonly limestone cliffs.
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Herb
Duration:Perennial
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:PTMU
Plant Notes:Spider Brake is an introduced evergreen fern in the Maidenhair Fern family (Pteridaceae). It is thought to be native to Asia, but is now found in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. In Alabama, it can be found in the southern 2/3’s of the state. Spider Brake often grows on brick walls of older buildings, in masonry around cemeteries’, and on limestone or marl creek banks. It is a perennial with a short creeping rhizome. The rhizome is covered in reddish-brown scales. The fronds (leaves) are clustered towards the apex of the rhizome. Fronds vary from 2 to 15 inches in length. The petiole is scaly towards the base and glabrous above. The blade is oblong to oblanceolate in outline and pinnately or pedately divided into lanceolate or linear pinna. The rachis (the continuation of the petiole between the pinna) is winged. The margins of the pinna are serrate or entire. Spider Brake reproduces by forming spores. The spores are in sporangia located along the margins of the pinna and are covered by the curved margin of the pinna (a false indusium). Spider Brake is similar to Cretan Brake (Pteris cretica Linnaeus), a much less common species in Alabama. Cretan Brake lacks a winged rachis. Spider Brake is often cultivated and is available from many nurseries. It prefers an alkaline soil and can survive drier conditions than many ferns. Brake is a Middle English word for “fern”. This species is also known by the common name of Huguenot Fern. It was collected from a Huguenot cemetery in Charleston South Carolina in 1868, and it was falsely believed to have been introduced by the Huguenots. This species is very common in the historic downtown of Mobile and Selma where it grows in the cracks of walls along the alley ways.--A. Diamond
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Not Native
References:**
Specimen: View specimen details in the Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyPTERIDACEAE - Maidenhair Fern family
Genus Pteris
Species Pteris multifida Poir. - Spider Brake; Wall Brake; Huguenot Fern

Citation

Citation Pteris multifida Poiret, Encycl. 5: 714. 1804.
Basionym: **
Type: Without data (holotype: P-LAM).

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Pteris serrulata    
Pycnodoria multifida Pycnodoria multifida (Poiret) Small, Ferns S.E. States 104, 468. 1938.Pteris multifida Poiret 1804. 

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Barbour, Bibb, Butler, Calhoun, Chilton, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Elmore, Etowah, Hale, Houston, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AMAL, AUA, JSU, SAMF, TROY, UNA, USAM, UWAL, UWFP

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1997 - 1997

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.
Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used
Image
UNA00057528 Tuscaloosa 01 Apr 1953 Chermock, Ralph L.
s.n.
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
AUA_ACC_44918 Conecuh 1 Jan 1987 Diamond, Alvin R.
2993
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
AUA_ACC_63404 Dallas 28 Jun 2003 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11935
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UNA00057529 Tuscaloosa 02 May 1961 Farmer, Joe A.
s.n.
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
AMAL00018990 Dallas 26 Jan 2009 Keener, Brian R.
5025
AMAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
USAM000000260 Monroe 16 May 1973 LeLong, Michel G.
7081
USAM
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
TROY000042191 Hale 30 Aug 2012 Keener, Brian R.
7460
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
JSU109678 Clarke 31 Oct 1997 Whetstone, R. David
18976
JSU
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
AUA_ACC_10408 Lauderdale 12 Aug 1961 Jones, Jr., Samuel B.
790
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UNA00073903 Barbour 8 Sep 2013 Keener, Brian R.
8172
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
UWAL0001378 Monroe 16 Sep 1976 Short, John (Jack) W.
833
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
AUA_ACC_1150 Lee 16 May 1956 Funderburk, Jr., H.H.
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UNA00051840 Montgomery 19 Apr 1956 Harper, Roland M.
4355
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
AUA000030345 Lee 25 Apr 2011 Hansen, Curtis J.
4999
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UWFP000025760acc Mobile 10 Jan 2016 James R. Burkhalter
25690
UWFP
Pteris multifida Poir.
TROY000034226 Lowndes 26 Nov 2011 Diamond, Alvin R.
22724
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
UWAL0030189 Jefferson 23 May 2015 Davenport, L.J.
5759
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
AMAL00020018 Mobile 16 Mar 2013 Horne, Howard E.
2181
AMAL
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
UNA00051839 Monroe 07 Sep 1949 Crawford, Lloyd C.
92
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
AUA_ACC_32438 Elmore 15 Jul 1975 Short, John W.
365
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
JSU109680 Etowah 19 May 1968 Collier, Gary
s.n.
JSU
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
UWAL0039226 Barbour 16 Dec 2018 Diamond, Alvin R.
28651
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
JSU109682 Jefferson 31 Jul 1965 Rudulph, Marilou A.
Steeves 12-2
JSU
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
SAMF0006212 Jefferson 23 May 2015 Davenport, Lawrence J.
5759
SAMF
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
AUA_ACC_71189 Bibb 26 Jun 2013 Barger, T. Wayne
SP1081
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UWAL0050844 Jefferson 29 Jul 1965 Steeves, Burges R.
Steeves 12-1
UWAL
Pteris multifida
UNA00062282 Dallas 28 Jun 2003 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11935
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
AMAL00023065 Lee 25 Apr 2011 Hansen, Curtis J.
4999
AMAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
AUA_ACC_44978 Monroe 29 Nov 1986 Diamond, Alvin R.
2953
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UWAL0030101 Chilton 05 Oct 2014 Keener, Brian R.
8609
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
TROY000013269 Monroe 13 Sep 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
18062
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
UWAL0001376 Monroe 13 Sep 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
18062
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
UNA00051838 Monroe 16 Sep 1976 Short, John W. (Jack)
833
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
UWAL0011901 Hale 30 Aug 2012 Keener, Brian R.
7460
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
TROY000037692 Pike 21 Jan 2013 Diamond, Alvin R.
23671
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
UNA00073472 Bibb 26 Jun 2013 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#1081
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
AMAL00004144 Bibb 26 Jun 2013 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#1081
AMAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
UWAL0033737 Sumter 25 Jun 2016 Keener, Brian R.
9721
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
TROY000030761 Lee 20 Apr 1955 Tippins, H.H.
s.n.
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
TROY000043420 Chilton 05 Oct 2014 Keener, Brian R.
8609
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret
JSU109681 Jefferson 20 Jun 1985 Barber, J. Patrick
1603
JSU
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
AUA_ACC_70552 Monroe 14 May 2009 Keener, Brian R.
5306
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
AMAL00018977 Jefferson 11 Apr 2012 Barger, T. Wayne
530
AMAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
UWAL0014105 Pike 21 Jan 2013 Diamond, Alvin R.
23671
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
TROY000000426 Conecuh 13 Aug 2000 Diamond, Alvin R.
11974
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
UWAL0047360 Monroe 09 Mar 2020 Soehren, Eric C.
658
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
JSU109683 Monroe 26 Mar 1995 Whetstone, R. David
s.n.
JSU
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
AUA_ACC_9931 Etowah 1960 Dean, Blanche E.
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
AUA_ACC_32066 Lee 7 Nov 1974 Short, John W.
344
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
JSU109679 Etowah 26 Apr 1994 Hodge, Lesley M.
1251
JSU
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
USAM000000259 Monroe 16 May 1973 LeLong, Michel G.
7081
USAM
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
ALNHS00008077 Elmore 29 Mar 2022 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#5925
ALNHS
Pteris multifida Poir.
AMAL00022832 Talladega 22 Jun 2016 Keener, Brian R.
9715
AMAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
AUA_ACC_46117 Macon 26 May 1977 Hight, M.Connie
152
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UWAL0031288 Bibb 06 Jun 2015 Keener, Brian R.
8981
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
TROY000033201 Montgomery 28 Feb 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21159
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
UWAL0001374 Butler 13 Mar 2009 Diamond, Alvin R.
20519
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
ALNHS00001151 Jefferson 11 Apr 2012 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#530
ALNHS
Pteris multifida Poir.
AUA_ACC_55611 Mobile 6 Feb 1945 Rust, H.B.
172
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UNA00051841 s.d. Unknown
s.n.
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
UWAL0001375 Dallas 26 Jan 2009 Keener, Brian R.
5025
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
UWAL0036236 Barbour 08 Sep 2013 Keener, Brian R.
8172
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poiret
TROY000000427 Dallas 28 Jun 2003 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11935
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
UNA00051842 s.d. Mohr, Charles
s.n.
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
UWAL0038243 Monroe 16 May 1973 LeLong, Michel G.
7081
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
AMAL00005475 Tuscaloosa 10 Jun 1938 Stevenson
s.n.
AMAL
Pteris multifida
AMAL00019612 Etowah 02 Apr 2010 Barger, T. Wayne
215
AMAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
AUA_ACC_32439 Etowah 25 Jun 1976 Short, John W.
695
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UNA00056165 Tuscaloosa 10 Jun 1938 Stevenson
s.n.
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
UWAL0050845 Jefferson 31 Jul 1965 Rudulph, Marilou A.
Steeves 12-3
UWAL
Pteris multifida
AUA_ACC_35173 Lee 12 Aug 1977 Glick, J.I.
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UNA00051836 Mobile _ _ 1878 Mohr, Charles
s.n.
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
UWAL0010695 Lowndes 26 Nov 2011 Diamond, Alvin R.
22724
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
UWAL0001377 Monroe 14 May 2009 Keener, Brian R.
5306
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
TROY000051884 Talladega 22 Jun 2016 Keener, Brian R.
9715
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
JSU109684 Talladega 2 Oct 1996 Jackson, Hayes A.
s.n.
JSU
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
AUA000040348 Houston 8 Apr 2015 Barger, T. Wayne
DTP-108
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
AMAL00008323 Dallas 28 Jun 2003 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11935
AMAL
Pteris multifida Poir
AUA_ACC_32440 Monroe 16 Sep 1976 Short, John W.
833
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
JSU109677 Calhoun 3 May 1967 Collier, Gary
s.n.
JSU
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
UWAL0038916 Lee 25 Apr 2011 Hansen, Curtis J.
4999
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
UWAL0018819 Monroe 05 May 1988 Kral, Robert
74690
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poir.
TROY000047504 Barbour 16 Dec 2018 Diamond, Alvin R.
28651
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
AMAL00013334 Monroe 13 Sep 2012 Diamond, Alvin R.
18062
AMAL
Pteris multifida Poir
UWAL0033739 Talladega 22 Jun 2016 Keener, Brian R.
9715
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
TROY000031083 Etowah 25 Jun 1976 Short, John W. (Jack)
695
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
JSU109676 Calhoun 23 Dec 1999 Montgomery, Marion
s.n.
JSU
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
AUA_ACC_1151 Lee 20 Apr 1955 Tippins, H.H.
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
AUA_ACC_652 Macon May 1908 Andrews, Elizabeth F.
AUA
Pteris Multifida Poir.
UWAL0016857 Mobile 16 May 2013 Horne, Howard E.
2181
UWAL
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
TROY000028284 Butler 13 Mar 2009 Diamond, Alvin R.
20519
TROY
Pteris multifida Poiret ex Lamarck
AMAL00007605 Lee 09 Aug 1978 Kral, Robert
62484
AMAL
Pteris multifida Poir
UNA00047590 Barbour 20 Jun 1997 MacDonald, John R.
10737
UNA
Pteris multifida Poir.
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