Help us maintain this website and keep it free and open for our community of scientists, students, and conservation managers, who depend on it to obtain the most up to date information. Help us save species and restore native ecosystems!

Close

Please scroll to the bottom for more images.
Thelypteris reticulata (L.) Proctor
Lattice-vein fern

Thelypteris reticulata
Copyright by: Mike Rosenthal

Family: Thelypteridaceae

Group: Pteridophyte

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Herb

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: South Florida, the West Indies, southern Mexico and South America.

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

State of Florida Status: Endangered

Florida Natural Areas Inventory State Status: Critically Imperiled

IRC SOUTH FLORIDA Status: Imperiled

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Native

South Florida History and Distribution: Ranked as critically imperiled in Rare Plants of South Florida (Gann et al. 2002; pp ) based on three occurrences in five protected areas (Big Cypress National Preserve; Everglades National Park, Frog Pond/L-31 N Transition Lands, and Southern Glades; Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park). There has been significant confusion between this and T. serrata, and this is now known from many additional locations. It was reranked as imperiled in 2024.

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Cultivated

Comments: Very similar to Thelypteris serrata, but distinguished by pinnae with fewer, more irregular, and less sharp teeth along the margins. The terminal pinna of T. reticulata is also as large or larger than all other pinnae, where as T. serrata usually has a more tapered blade apex (i.e., the pinnae decrease in size toward the tip of the blade). Finally, presence of buds or small plantlets in the axils of proximal lateral pinnae is notable for some T. reticulata.

See also, IRC’s report Vascular plant species of management concern in Everglades National Park (Gann 2015), page 74.

Other data on Thelypteris reticulata available from :

Thelypteris reticulata has been found in the following 9 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Big Cypress National Preserve Present Native
Everglades National Park Present Native
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Present Native
Frog Pond/L-31 N Transition Lands Present Native
Holiday Hammock Present Native
Jonathan Dickinson State Park Present Native
Loveland Hammock Possibly Extirpated Possibly Extirpated
Lucille Hammock Present Native
Southern Glades Assumed to be Present Native

Thelypteris reticulata has been found in the following 5 counties :
Occurrence Native Status
Broward County Native
Collier County Native
Lee County Possibly Extirpated Possibly Extirpated
Martin County Native
Miami-Dade County Native

Thelypteris reticulata has been found in the following 5 habitats :
Disturbed Wetland
Dome Swamp
Floodplain Swamp
Rockland Hammock
Strand Swamp

All Images:

Thelypteris reticulata
Copyright by: Mike Rosenthal
Thelypteris reticulata
Copyright by: Keith Buttry, 2013
In habitat, Everglades National Park
Thelypteris reticulata
Copyright by: Keith Buttry, 2013
In habitat, Everglades National Park
Thelypteris reticulata
Copyright by: Keith Buttry, 2013
In habitat, Everglades National Park
Thelypteris reticulata
Copyright by: Mike Rosenthal
Thelypteris reticulata
Copyright by: Mike Rosenthal
Thelypteris reticulata
Copyright by: Susan Lerner, cultivated at Pan's Garden, Town of Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
Thelypteris reticulata
Copyright by: Susan Lerner, cultivated at Pan's Garden, Town of Palm Beach, Florida, USA.