Melpomene moniliformis (Lag. ex Sw.) A.R.Sm. & R.C.Moran var. moniliformis

  • Authority

    Lehnert, Marcus. 2013. Grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae). II. . Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 112: 1--121. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Polypodiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Melpomene moniliformis (Lag. ex Sw.) A.R.Sm. & R.C.Moran var. moniliformis

  • Type

    Type. Peru. Collector not stated (holotype, S).

  • Synonyms

    Polypodium moniliforme Lag. ex Sw., Ctenopteris moniliformis (Sw. ex Lag.) J.Sm., Grammitis moniliformis (Lag. ex Sw.) Proctor, Xiphopteris moniliformis (Sw. ex Lag.) Crabbe, Polypodium moniliforme var. major Liebm., Polypodium subcrenatum Hook., Polypodium angustissimum Fée

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants medium to large, terrestrial, epilithic, or epiphytic. Rhizomes to 1.5 mm diam., moderately creeping with the fronds diffusely arranged, but terrestrial and epilithic plants usually growing in dense tufts. Rhizome scales 2.0-2.5 x 0.6 mm, 14—18(—22) cells wide across bases. Fronds 10-20 cm long, stiffly erect, closely arranged (internodes 1-5 mm). Petioles to 55 mm long, decurrently alate to weakly marginate, glabrescent with branched clavate hairs and many, pale brown, ciliform hairs, which may persist if plants grow in cushions. Laminae 80-145 x 5-11 mm, linear to linear elliptic, laminar bases truncate, or weakly cuneate with the lower segment pairs gradually smaller if plants grow in cushions, laminar tip short-acute to obtuse. Rhachises sometimes proximally short-hairy on both sides, but glabrous in fertile parts. Largest segments 2.0-5.0 x 2.5-3.0 mm (1.0-1.5 times longer than broad), with hyaline margins 2 cell-rows wide, segments imbricate in dried specimens. Sori 1-2 pairs per segment, with 1—5(—10) hairs to 1.0 mm long, hidden by sporangia, rarely completely lacking.

  • Discussion

    The transitions in frond size and segment proportions between the varieties of Melpomene moniliformis are smooth, but only the smallest and the largest plants, represented by var. minor and var. adnata, may be completely glabrous. The var. moniliformis shows the strongest pubescence among the Andean varieties, with the young petioles densely covered in branched clavate hairs and varying amounts of ciliform hairs; the latter hair type may persist on a fair number on the petioles and may resemble the pubescence of var. subdicarpa.

    Melpomene moniliformis var. moniliformis from shaded habitats may be similar to M. paradoxa in laminar shape (Fig. 23F), but differs from that species in having darker, smaller rhizome scales (2.0-2.5 x 0.6 mm, 14—18(—22) cells wide across the base vs. 3.5-4.0(-8.0) x 1.0-1.6 mm, (14-)22-28(-32) cells wide in M. paradoxa) and usually fewer, less conspicuous hairs in the sori (l-5(-10) vs. 5-10). The internodes of M. moniliformis are generally smaller than those of M. paradoxa (1-5 mm vs. 5-10 mm).

  • Distribution

    Whole range of the species, in sheltered rocky habitats of páramos and punas, in Polylepis and elfin forests at 2000-4500 m.

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