Question: This looks more like Polypodium appalachianum than P. virginianum to me, but I am a botanical novice and these pictures …
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Question
This looks more like Polypodium appalachianum than P. virginianum to me, but I am a botanical novice and these pictures are from Tolland county (the edge of it—Gay City State Park) which apparently the former has not been documented to appear in according to the distribution map on this site (though it has in the immediately adjacent county). Is it possible to tell which species they are (assuming I have the genus right, of course) from these images?
Answer
Dear Meromorphic, the plants do look more like Polypodium appalachianum than they do P. virginianum. However, confident determination relies on spore measurements. Also, hybrids do occur (which, again, can be determined through examination of spores). Without a specimen, it is really difficult to be confident. If you were ever able to send me one, I could identify this plant and perhaps confirm your possibly new county record. If you are interested, email me at ahaines[at]nativeplanttrust.org and we can discuss this. Best wishes.
