| Abstract Detail
Pteridology Yawn, Noah [1], Johnson, Marc [2], Cressler, Alan [3], Barger, Pricilla [4], Barger, Wayne [5]. Discovery of Vittaria graminifolia (Pteridaceae) Sporophytes in Elmore County Alabama: A Third North American Record. Shoestring Ferns, Vittaria spp. (Pteridaceae), are best classified as fascinating botanical oddities known for a cryptic feature: producing long-lived clonal gametophyte colonies. We report the discovery of Vittaria graminifolia Kaulf. sporophytes and clonal gametophytes in Elmore County, Alabama (USA). This represents the second observation of sporophytes, as well as the third known occurrence of V. graminifolia within the United States. We base our preliminary identification of V. graminifolia from gemmae and thallus morphology, as well as habitat and presence of sporophytes. In order to unambiguously identify this population of Vittaria, we will extract DNA and subsequently utilize BLAST to determine sequence homology and affinity with existing GenBank plastid loci. Additionally, analysis of additional populations of V. graminifolia's North American congener, V. appalachiana Farrar and Mickel, for direct comparison are planned. This includes necessitating genetic identification of a newly discovered and unique population of supposed V. appalachiana, anomalous in habitat and preference for growing within deep, vertical, felsic rock crevasse caves.
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1 - Auburn University, Department Of Biological Sciences, 101 Rouse Life Sciences Bldg, Auburn University, AL, 36849, United States
2 - Auburn University, Department of Biological Sciences, 101 Rouse Life Sciences Bldg, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
3 - United States Geological Survey, 1790 Pennington Place SE, Atlanta, GA, 30316, USA
4 - Auburn University, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, 166 Greene Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
5 - State Lands Division, Natural Heritage Section, 64 North Union Street, Montgomery, AL, 36130, United States
Keywords:
shoestring fern
rock shelter
sporophyte
gametophyte
gemmae
Pteridaceae.
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P3, Pteridology Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Wednesday, July 21st, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P3PT004
Abstract ID:1099
Candidate for Awards:Phytochemical Best Poster Award |
