Lellingeria smithii Labiak
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Authority
Labiak Evangelista, Paulo H. 2013. Grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae). I.
. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 111: 1--130. (Published by NYBG Press) -
Family
Polypodiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Ecuador. Esmeraldas: Quininde. Bilsa Biological Reserve, Montanas de Mache, 35 km W of Quininde, 5 km W of Santa Isabela, 00°21' N, 79°44' W, 400-600 m, 18 Nov 1994, N. Pitman & M. Bass 987 (holotype, MO).
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Lellingeria smithii a L. suspensa similis, sed segmentis longioribus (usque ad 3.5 cm longis) et insertis in rachidi sub angulo proxime 90° abeuntibus, sino multum ampliore quam segmentorum latitudo et in quoque segmento 10-15 soris instructo differt.
Species Description - Plants epiphytic; fronds pendent, indeterminate; rhizome erect, radial, with ventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 2-3(-4) x 0.2-0.3 mm, lanceolate, the apex short-attenuate, clathrate, dark brown, glabrous throughout; petiole 0.5-l(-2) cm x 0.7 mm, dark brown, narrowly winged, glabrescent or sparsely pubescent, the hairs ca. 0.2 mm long, appressed, simple or 1-furcate, 1- to 3-celled, whitish; lamina 15—30(—40) cm long, linear to linear-lanceolate, membranaceous, deeply pinnatisect, 40-80(-90) pairs of segments, abruptly reduced at the base with 2-6 basal segments shorter than the median ones, the lowermost auriculiform and decurrent onto petiole base, broadest above the base, but showing periodic constrictions, the apex abruptly reduced, pinnatifid, not ending in a conform or subconform segment; rachis straight, with dark sclerenchyma visible on both sides, sparsely pubescent abaxially, glabrescent adaxially, hairs ca. 0.1 mm long, appressed, entire or 1-furcate, 1- to 3-celled, whitish; segments ca. 2.5-3.5 x 0.2-0.4 cm, plane, set 85-90° to rachis, widened and slightly symmetric at the base, decurrent basiscopically, short-surcurrent acroscopically, the base attached parallel on the rachis (i.e., both sides inserted along the same radius), not lobulate: or overlapping the base of the next segment, the apex acute to obtuse, the margin conspicuously crenate on both sides, glabrous, abaxial lamina surface glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, adaxial lamina surface glabrous, sinuses 2 or 3 times as broad as the segments; venation pinnate, with 12-16 pairs of veins per segment; costae with blackish sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue on both sides, sparsely pubescent abaxially, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, glabrous adaxially; veins simple, without blackish sclerenchyma, ending in hydathodes without calcareous deposits; sori medial, rounded, not protruding beyond the costa and margin, 12-16 pairs per segment, deeply sunken; sporangial capsules glabrous.
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Discussion
Lellingeria smithii resembles the larger forms of L. suspensa in its glabrous rhizome scales and sunken sori. However, it is distinct in having longer segments (to 3.5 cm long) set to the rachis at an angle of about 90°, sinuses much broader (usually twice as broad as the segments), conspicuously crenate segment margins, and number of sori varying from 10-15. In contrast, L. suspensa has shorter segments (to 2 cm long) set to the rachis at an angle of 60-75°, sinuses about the same width as the segments (rarely twice as wide), entire segment margins, and number of sori up to 8 (rarely 10).
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Distribution
Endemic to Ecuador at 400-1150 m elevation.
Esmeraldas Ecuador South America| Los Ríos Ecuador South America| Pichincha Ecuador South America|