Monographs Details:
Authority:
Labiak Evangelista, Paulo H. 2013. Grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae). I.. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 111: 1--130. (Published by NYBG Press)
Labiak Evangelista, Paulo H. 2013. Grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae). I.
Family:
Polypodiaceae
Polypodiaceae
Synonyms:
Polypodium kaieteurum Jenman, Grammitis kaieteura (Jenman) C.V.Morton
Polypodium kaieteurum Jenman, Grammitis kaieteura (Jenman) C.V.Morton
Description:
Species Description - Plants epiphytic; fronds erect to arcuate, determinate; rhizome short-creeping, dorsiventral, with dorsiventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 0.5-1 x 0.1-0.2 mm, lanceolate, the apex short-attenuate, clathrate, castaneous, ciliate, the cilia simple, present on scale margin and apex; petiole 0.5-1.5 cm x 0.6 mm, dark brown, terete, pubescent, the hairs 0.1 mm long, spreading, simple, 1-celled, whitish; lamina to 10 cm long, obovate to elliptic, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, deeply pinnatisect, 15-25 pairs of segments, abruptly reduced at the base with 1—2(—3) basal segments about 2/3 shorter than the medial ones, the lowermost auriculiform, not long-decurrent onto petiole base, broadest near the middle, not showing periodic constrictions, the apex abruptly reduced, pinnatifid or sometimes ending in a subconform segment (sometimes missing in some specimens); rachis straight, with dark sclerenchyma throughout its length and visible on both sides, pubescent abaxially, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, simple or 2(-3)-furcate, 1- to 3-celled, whitish to castaneous, pubescent adaxially, the hairs 0.1 mm long, spreading, simple, 1- to 2-celled, whitish; segments 0.8-1.2 (-1.5) x 0.2 cm, plane, set 50-60° to rachis, more or less symmetrical, slightly widened at the base, short-decurrent basiscopically, slightly cuneate acroscopically, the base attached parallel on the rachis (i.e., both sides inserted along the same radius), not lobulate, the apex acute to obtuse, the margin entire, plane, glabrescent, the hairs simple, abaxial lamina surface glabrescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses narrower than the segments; venation pinnate, with 4-7 pairs of veins per segment; costae with the black sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue, glabrescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis; veins simple, without blackish sclerenchyma, ending in hydathodes that lack calcareous deposits; sori medial, rounded, not protruding beyond thecosta and margin, 5-8 pairs per segment, slightly sunken; sporangial capsules glabrous.
Species Description - Plants epiphytic; fronds erect to arcuate, determinate; rhizome short-creeping, dorsiventral, with dorsiventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 0.5-1 x 0.1-0.2 mm, lanceolate, the apex short-attenuate, clathrate, castaneous, ciliate, the cilia simple, present on scale margin and apex; petiole 0.5-1.5 cm x 0.6 mm, dark brown, terete, pubescent, the hairs 0.1 mm long, spreading, simple, 1-celled, whitish; lamina to 10 cm long, obovate to elliptic, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, deeply pinnatisect, 15-25 pairs of segments, abruptly reduced at the base with 1—2(—3) basal segments about 2/3 shorter than the medial ones, the lowermost auriculiform, not long-decurrent onto petiole base, broadest near the middle, not showing periodic constrictions, the apex abruptly reduced, pinnatifid or sometimes ending in a subconform segment (sometimes missing in some specimens); rachis straight, with dark sclerenchyma throughout its length and visible on both sides, pubescent abaxially, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, simple or 2(-3)-furcate, 1- to 3-celled, whitish to castaneous, pubescent adaxially, the hairs 0.1 mm long, spreading, simple, 1- to 2-celled, whitish; segments 0.8-1.2 (-1.5) x 0.2 cm, plane, set 50-60° to rachis, more or less symmetrical, slightly widened at the base, short-decurrent basiscopically, slightly cuneate acroscopically, the base attached parallel on the rachis (i.e., both sides inserted along the same radius), not lobulate, the apex acute to obtuse, the margin entire, plane, glabrescent, the hairs simple, abaxial lamina surface glabrescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses narrower than the segments; venation pinnate, with 4-7 pairs of veins per segment; costae with the black sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue, glabrescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis; veins simple, without blackish sclerenchyma, ending in hydathodes that lack calcareous deposits; sori medial, rounded, not protruding beyond thecosta and margin, 5-8 pairs per segment, slightly sunken; sporangial capsules glabrous.
Discussion:
Lellingeria kaieteura is very similar and closely related to L. tenuicula from the West Indies, which can be distinguished by having costae with dark sclerenchyma exposed abaxially, rhizome scales 2-3 cm long, laminae chartaceous to membranaceous, and segments with branched hairs in the margin. In contrast, L. kaieteura has costae obscured by laminar tissue; rhizome scales less than 2 mm long; laminae chartaceous to subcoriaceous; and glabrous segment margins or, if hairs are present, these are simple and not furcate. Although most of the specimens can be distinguished using these differences, some individuals from Venezuela show intermediate characteristics between the species. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship between these two taxa and also to identify possible hybrids between them.
Lellingeria kaieteura is very similar and closely related to L. tenuicula from the West Indies, which can be distinguished by having costae with dark sclerenchyma exposed abaxially, rhizome scales 2-3 cm long, laminae chartaceous to membranaceous, and segments with branched hairs in the margin. In contrast, L. kaieteura has costae obscured by laminar tissue; rhizome scales less than 2 mm long; laminae chartaceous to subcoriaceous; and glabrous segment margins or, if hairs are present, these are simple and not furcate. Although most of the specimens can be distinguished using these differences, some individuals from Venezuela show intermediate characteristics between the species. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship between these two taxa and also to identify possible hybrids between them.
Distribution:
Trinidad and Tobago South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| Táchira Venezuela South America| Vaupés Colombia South America| Oriente Cuba South America|
Trinidad and Tobago South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| Táchira Venezuela South America| Vaupés Colombia South America| Oriente Cuba South America|