Pteris plumieri Link

West Indian Striped Brake

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

**

<p>First discovered in Alabama in Mobile County by <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/319011811">Howard Horne</a>&nbsp;in 2019.&nbsp; The original specimen collections and published report (<em>Yawn et al 2024</em>) used the name&nbsp;<strong><em>Pteris quadriaurita</em></strong> Retz, a closely related taxon native to&nbsp;Sri Lanka and India.&nbsp; It now appears more likely the plants in Alabama are identifiable with <em><strong>P.&nbsp;plumieri</strong>,&nbsp;</em>a tropical western hemisphere species.&nbsp; The encroachment of tropical&nbsp;taxa into the southeastern U.S.&nbsp;from the Carribbean and Central America is a very common occurrence that has shaped our flora adding numerous taxa now distributed in Alabama.&nbsp; This is likely another example.</p>

Not Native

Yawn, N.D., A.M. Cressler, H.E. Horne, and T.W. Barger. 2024. New and noteworthy additions to the fern flora of Alabama, USA. Amer. Fern J. 114(3): 223-232.