Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.
Dryopteridaceae
Species Description - Rhizomes short-creeping, rarely moderately creeping, 4–10 mm diam.; rhizome scales linear-lanceolate, orange to dull tan or dirty brown, occasionally somewhat lustrous or with a blackish cast, to 8 mm long, entire; fronds clumped, rarely slightly spaced, (9–)16–70 x (1.5–)2.4–7 cm; phyllopodia distinct; stipes usually 1/4–1/3 the frond length, glabrous or sparsely clothed with spreading, lanceolate, irregularly toothed scales, rarely with abundant scales; blades narrowly elliptic, coriaceous, bases cuneate to broadly cuneate, apices acuminate; veins obscure, free, simple to twice-forked, ca. 1 mm apart, at 70–80º angle to costa; hydathodes absent; blade surfaces glabrous or with minute stellate black hairs on the abaxial surfaces; fertile fronds about equal to the sterile fronds in size but sometimes with slightly narrower blades or longer stipes, intersporangial scales absent.
Acrostichum sartorii Liebm., Mexic. Bregn. 166 (reprint 14). 1849. Lectotype (chosen by Mickel & Beitel, 1988: 181). Mexico. Veracruz: Hac. de Mirador, Liebmann s.n. [Pl. Mex. 2430, Fl. Mex. 14] (C!; isolectotypes P!-2 sheets). Elaphoglossum nanchititlense Matuda, Helechos Edo. Me´x. 36. 1956. Type.Mexico. Me´xico: Can˜ada de Nanchititla, Matuda et al. 31589 (MEXU!; isotype US!).
Acrostichum scapellum Kunze ex Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 9: 1. 1857. Elaphoglossum scapellum (Kunze ex Fe´e) T. Moore, Index Fil. 365. 1862. Type. Mexico. Veracruz: “Bois de la Cordillie`re,” Galeotti 6304 (P!).
Elaphoglossum sartorii is very close to, but probably distinct from, E. latifolium (Sw.) J. Sm. of the West Indies, and these species represent perhaps the most difficult complex in the genus. The blades are essentially glabrous (at most with minute, stellate trichomidia abaxially), and the rhizomes generally compact, stout, with linear to linear-lanceolate, orange-tan to dirty brown scales. There is great variation in frond size, blade shape, and rhizome scale color, shape, and size. Some of the variation falls into consistent patterns, and we are here describing three recognizable variants at the species level: E. xanthopodum (with long, linear, orange rhizome scales), E. leebrowniae (with large rhizome scales tinged with black), and E. yourkeorum (with narrow fertile blades and bases of sterile blades broadly cuneate at 60–95º angles). Elaphoglossum viride is also very similar and is distinct by its incurved rhizome scales with concave isodiametric cells.