Taylor, W. Carl. 1976. Vascular flora of Jonca Creek, Ste Genevieve County, Missouri. Castanea. 41: 93-118.
Dryopteridaceae
Latin Diagnosis - Elaphoglosso paleaceo (Hook. & Grev.) Sledge affinibusque similis sed squamis superficie laminari inferna sparsis, rectis, saepe infundibularibus, ad vel ner- vos secus maioribus densioribusque differt.
Species Description - Plants epiphytic or rarely saxicolous; rhizomes erect to short-creeping, 3-5 mm in diameter, densely scaly, the scales lanceolate, lustrous, dark maroon to black, 2.5-6 x 0.5- 0.9 mm, ciliate, the cilia rigid, often decidu- ous with age; phyllopodia distinct, 4-8 mm long, densely clad in deciduous scales similar to those of the rhizome but larger and more reddish; leaves fasciculate to 1-2 mm apart, to 75 x 3.4 cm; petioles ca. 1/4-1/3 the sterile leaf length, stramineous to pale reddish brown, moderately to densely scaly, the scales lanceolate, ciliate, patent, scale bodies to 5 x 1.1 mm, pale orange, usually partly dark, indurated, typically so along the margins, but sometimes apically or on the entire scales, patent; blades linear-oblanceolate, chartaceous, apically caudate to narrowly obtuse, basally narrowly cuneate; veins obscure, free, ca. 1.5-2 mm apart, set at ca. 800 to costae; hydathodes lacking; blade scales adaxially scattered, long-ciliate, the scale bodies to 0.4 mm long or almost completely reduced and then the scales resembling stellate hairs, orange, loosely appressed, abaxially scattered, lanceolate, erect, usually funnel-shaped, ciliate, scale bodies 0.1-1(1.5) x 0.05-0.8 mm, larger and denser on and near the veins, thus forming distinct lines of scales, orange, rarely with black margins or apices, costal scales larger, flat, often partly dark and indurated, marginal scales lanceolate, ciliate, orange, spreading, forming dense scale rows; fertile leaves nearly equalling the sterile in length, petioles 1/3- 1/2 the leaf length, blades slightly narrower than the sterile; intersporangial scales scattered, lanceolate, castaneous, ciliate.
(Fig. 6 A-E)
This species has long-ciliate, partly indurated rhizome, petiole, and blade scales, and thus belongs to the taxonomically difficult group of E. paleaceum (Hook. & Grev.) Sledge. It is characterized mainly by the scales of the abaxial blade surface that are rather sparse, erect, often funnel-shaped, and larger and denser on or along the veins. The adaxial blade scales are smaller and more dissected, and usually more appressed than E. paleaceum or E. molle (Sodiro) C. Chr. typical specimens, the leaves are long and narrowly oblanceolate, and the petiole scales have indurated margins and pale centers. There is, however, considerable morphologi- cal variation within the species as defined here. Some specimens have completely pale or only apically indurated petiole scales well as adaxial blade scales with distinct scale bodies. Others have relatively short, oblanceolate blades and relatively short oles with completely black scales. Perhaps most distinct is Jimenez 905 (La Paz, Franz Tamayo, PN-ANMI Madidi, senda Keara-Mojos, abajo de Chunkani, 14º38'S, 68º57'W, 2870 m, LPB, NY, UC) which has very dense, long, patent, orange petiole scales and flat, somewhat appressed blade scales. Given the complexity of this species group, we are hesitant to describe this as a distinct taxon, but do not include it under E. neei either.
It is conceivable that the name E. rimbachii (Sodiro) H. Christ from Ecuador plies to this species, but the type material that taxon has not been located and the original description lacks enough detail to allow certain application of that name. Further, Mickel (1991) used the name E. rimbachii for Peruvian specimens that belong to a different species than the present one.
Elaphohlossum neei is a fairly common species that is epiphytic and rarely saxicolous in humid montane forests at 1900-3200 m in Bolivia and Ecuador (Azuay, Cuenca, Baños, Hacienda Yanasacha, 3000-3200 m, Boeke et al. 2614, NY) and certainly also occurs in Peru. It is named for Michael Nee, outstanding collector of Bolivian ferns.