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:
Ctenopteris major Copel., Polypodium tenuiculum var. acrosora Hieron., Grammitis major (Copel.) C.V.Morton
Ctenopteris major Copel., Polypodium tenuiculum var. acrosora Hieron., Grammitis major (Copel.) C.V.Morton
Description:
Species Description - Plants epiphytic or epipetric; fronds erect to slightly arcuate, determinate; rhizome short-creeping, dorsiventral, with ventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 4-6 x 0.4-0.6 mm, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, the apex long-attenuate, clathrate, bright castaneous ciliate, the cilia simple, present on scale margins, surface, and apex (apical cilia sometimes furcate); petiole 2-5 x 1-1.2 mm, dark brown, terete, densely pubescent, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple or 1-furcate, 2- to 3-celled, whitish to reddish; lamina to 30-40(-45) cm long, lanceolate, subcoriaceous, deeply reduced at the base with 5-9 basal segments 2A shorter than the median ones, the lowermost auriculiform, broadest above the base, not showing periodic constrictions, the apex abruptly reduced, pinnatifid, or ending in a subconform segment; rachis straight, the dark sclerenchyma visible on both sides, sparsely pubescent to glabrous abaxially, the hairs 0.1 mm long, appressed, simple, 2-celled, whitish to dark brown, densely pubescent adaxially, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple, 1- to 2-celled, castaneous to reddish; segments ca. 2.5-3 cm x 3-4 mm, plane, set 80-90° to rachis, widened and symmetric at the base, short-decurrent on both sides, sometimes slightly cuneate acroscopically, the base attached parallel on the rachis (i.e., both sides inserted along the same radius), not lobulate or, if slightly lobulate, not overlapping the base of the next segment, the apex obtuse, the margin entire, plane or slightly revolute, entire, abaxial lamina surface glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses about the same width as the segments; venation pinnate, with 10—12(—15) pairs of veins per segment; costae with blackish sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue on both sides (sometimes visible on the upper 1/3 of the abaxial side), glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially; veins simple, with blackish sclerenchyma restricted to base and obscured by laminar tissue, ending in hydathodes that lack calcareous deposits; sori medial, rounded, not protruding beyond the margin, up to 12(—15) pairs per segment, superficial or slightly sunken; sporangial capsules glabrous.
Species Description - Plants epiphytic or epipetric; fronds erect to slightly arcuate, determinate; rhizome short-creeping, dorsiventral, with ventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 4-6 x 0.4-0.6 mm, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, the apex long-attenuate, clathrate, bright castaneous ciliate, the cilia simple, present on scale margins, surface, and apex (apical cilia sometimes furcate); petiole 2-5 x 1-1.2 mm, dark brown, terete, densely pubescent, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple or 1-furcate, 2- to 3-celled, whitish to reddish; lamina to 30-40(-45) cm long, lanceolate, subcoriaceous, deeply reduced at the base with 5-9 basal segments 2A shorter than the median ones, the lowermost auriculiform, broadest above the base, not showing periodic constrictions, the apex abruptly reduced, pinnatifid, or ending in a subconform segment; rachis straight, the dark sclerenchyma visible on both sides, sparsely pubescent to glabrous abaxially, the hairs 0.1 mm long, appressed, simple, 2-celled, whitish to dark brown, densely pubescent adaxially, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple, 1- to 2-celled, castaneous to reddish; segments ca. 2.5-3 cm x 3-4 mm, plane, set 80-90° to rachis, widened and symmetric at the base, short-decurrent on both sides, sometimes slightly cuneate acroscopically, the base attached parallel on the rachis (i.e., both sides inserted along the same radius), not lobulate or, if slightly lobulate, not overlapping the base of the next segment, the apex obtuse, the margin entire, plane or slightly revolute, entire, abaxial lamina surface glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses about the same width as the segments; venation pinnate, with 10—12(—15) pairs of veins per segment; costae with blackish sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue on both sides (sometimes visible on the upper 1/3 of the abaxial side), glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially; veins simple, with blackish sclerenchyma restricted to base and obscured by laminar tissue, ending in hydathodes that lack calcareous deposits; sori medial, rounded, not protruding beyond the margin, up to 12(—15) pairs per segment, superficial or slightly sunken; sporangial capsules glabrous.
Discussion:
Lellingeria major bears some of the largest fronds in the genus, up to 45 cm long, and they are usually subcoriaceous in texture. Besides its size, it is also distinct in its short-creeping rhizome, scales that are ciliate and bright castaneous, and basal segments that are gradually reduced to the petiole base. Small specimens of L. major can be misinterpreted as L. apiculata,, but that species has a rachis that is conspicuously hairy on the abaxial side, and its basal segments are only slightly shorter than the median ones.Another similar species is Lellingeria oreophila, which can be distinguished by the chartaceous lamina, narrower sinuses, and segments with the bases almost overlapping each other on the upper third of the lamina. On the other hand, L. major has a subcoriaceous lamina, sinuses about the same size as or broader than the segments, and segments that do not overlap basally on any part of the lamina. Additionally, L. oreophila has dark gray rhizome scales (vs. bright castaneous in L. major).One specimen from Ecuador (Øllgaard 91059, AAU) is unusual because it has darker and longer rhizome scales and longer hairs on the petiole. However, it agrees in all other aspects to this species.See comments under Lellingeria amplisora, L. calolepis, L. longeattenuata, and L. paramicola for comparisons with those species.
Lellingeria major bears some of the largest fronds in the genus, up to 45 cm long, and they are usually subcoriaceous in texture. Besides its size, it is also distinct in its short-creeping rhizome, scales that are ciliate and bright castaneous, and basal segments that are gradually reduced to the petiole base. Small specimens of L. major can be misinterpreted as L. apiculata,, but that species has a rachis that is conspicuously hairy on the abaxial side, and its basal segments are only slightly shorter than the median ones.Another similar species is Lellingeria oreophila, which can be distinguished by the chartaceous lamina, narrower sinuses, and segments with the bases almost overlapping each other on the upper third of the lamina. On the other hand, L. major has a subcoriaceous lamina, sinuses about the same size as or broader than the segments, and segments that do not overlap basally on any part of the lamina. Additionally, L. oreophila has dark gray rhizome scales (vs. bright castaneous in L. major).One specimen from Ecuador (Øllgaard 91059, AAU) is unusual because it has darker and longer rhizome scales and longer hairs on the petiole. However, it agrees in all other aspects to this species.See comments under Lellingeria amplisora, L. calolepis, L. longeattenuata, and L. paramicola for comparisons with those species.
Distribution:
Azuay Ecuador South America| Carchi Ecuador South America| Zamora-Chinchipe Ecuador South America| Trujillo Venezuela South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Risaralda Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America|
Azuay Ecuador South America| Carchi Ecuador South America| Zamora-Chinchipe Ecuador South America| Trujillo Venezuela South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Risaralda Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America|