Monographs Details:
Authority:

Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.
Family:

Dryopteridaceae
Description:

Species Description - Rhizomes 4–6 mm diam., short-creeping; rhizome scales 2.5 cm long, linear, orange- to red-brown, lustrous, entire; fronds 25–48 cm long, approximate; phyllopodia 0.5–1 cm long; stipes 0.5–1 cm long, nearly absent, less than 1/30 of sterile frond length, stout, stramineous to brown; stipe scales 3–6 mm long, spreading, subulate, orange, lustrous, entire, the stipes also bearing minute glandular hairs; sterile blades 24–47 x 4.5–5.7 cm, oblanceolate, papyraceous to coriaceous, bases narrowly (or rarely broadly) cuneate, apices long-acuminate to caudate; veins ca. 1 mm apart, at 60–70ºangle to costa; hydathodes absent; blade scales 2–3 mm long, subulate, orange, lustrous, especially concentrated on the costae and margins, scattered on abaxial blade surfaces, entire, very sparse on adaxial surfaces; lamina also with minute, erect, glandular hairs; fertile fronds much smaller than the sterile, stipes 1/15–1/5 the frond length, with long, linear, orange scales on the abaxial costae, intersporangial scales absent.

Discussion:

Elaphoglossum apodum (Kaulf.) Schott ex J. Sm. var. latum Mickel, Amer. Fern J. 69: 100. 1979. Type. Guatemala. Alta Verapaz: along Rte 5 between Semococh and La Laguna on road to Chajmarjic, Steyermark 46368 (F!; isotype US!).

Elaphoglossum latum has fronds that are virtually sessile (stipes to 1 cm) and oblanceolate with orange subulate scales. It resembles E. apodum of the West Indies, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, but E. latum is distinct by its broader blades (4.5–5.7 cm vs. 0.9– 4.4 cm).

Distribution:

Ecuador South America| West Indies| Nicaragua Central America| Honduras Central America| Belize Central America| Guatemala Central America| México Mexico North America|