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
Description:
Species Description - Plants epiphytic; fronds pendent, determinate; rhizome erect, radial, with ventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 4-5 x 0.3-0.5 mm, lanceolate, the apex long-attenuate, clathrate, castaneous, ciliate, the cilia simple, somewhat shiny, rigid, and straight, present on scale margins, surface, and apex (apical cilia furcate); petiole 2-4 x 0.3-0.5 mm, dark brown, terete, sparsely pubescent, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple or 1-furcate, 2- to 3-celled, whitish to reddish; lamina 15-25(-30) cm long, linear-lanceolate, membranaceous, pinnate to pinnatisect, 20-40(-50) pairs of segments, abruptly reduced at the base with 3-6 basal segments shorter than the median ones, the lowermost auriculiform, decurrent onto the petiole base, broadest in the middle, sometimes showing periodic constrictions, the apex abruptly reduced, pinnatifid, not ending in a subconform segment; rachis straight, with dark sclerenchyma visible on both sides, sparsely pubescent to glabrous on both sides, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple or 1-furcate, 2- to 3-celled, whitish; segments 0.8-1.2 x 0.2-0.3 cm, plane, set 70-80° to rachis, widened and symmetric at the base, long-decurrent basiscopically, short surcurrent acroscopically, the base attached obliquely on the rachis (i.e., the basiscopic side attaches on the abaxial side, and the acroscopic side on the adaxial side), not cuneate acroscopically, not lobulate, not overlapping the base of the next segment, the apex acute to obtuse, the margin entire or slightly sinuate, plane or slightly undulate, abaxial lamina surface sparsely pubescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses as broad as or twice as broad as the segments; venation pinnate, with 4-6 pairs of veins per segment; costae with blackish sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue on both sides (sometimes slightly visible abaxially), 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, 3—4(—5) pairs per segment, superficial to slightly sunken; sporangial capsules glabrous.
Species Description - Plants epiphytic; fronds pendent, determinate; rhizome erect, radial, with ventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 4-5 x 0.3-0.5 mm, lanceolate, the apex long-attenuate, clathrate, castaneous, ciliate, the cilia simple, somewhat shiny, rigid, and straight, present on scale margins, surface, and apex (apical cilia furcate); petiole 2-4 x 0.3-0.5 mm, dark brown, terete, sparsely pubescent, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple or 1-furcate, 2- to 3-celled, whitish to reddish; lamina 15-25(-30) cm long, linear-lanceolate, membranaceous, pinnate to pinnatisect, 20-40(-50) pairs of segments, abruptly reduced at the base with 3-6 basal segments shorter than the median ones, the lowermost auriculiform, decurrent onto the petiole base, broadest in the middle, sometimes showing periodic constrictions, the apex abruptly reduced, pinnatifid, not ending in a subconform segment; rachis straight, with dark sclerenchyma visible on both sides, sparsely pubescent to glabrous on both sides, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple or 1-furcate, 2- to 3-celled, whitish; segments 0.8-1.2 x 0.2-0.3 cm, plane, set 70-80° to rachis, widened and symmetric at the base, long-decurrent basiscopically, short surcurrent acroscopically, the base attached obliquely on the rachis (i.e., the basiscopic side attaches on the abaxial side, and the acroscopic side on the adaxial side), not cuneate acroscopically, not lobulate, not overlapping the base of the next segment, the apex acute to obtuse, the margin entire or slightly sinuate, plane or slightly undulate, abaxial lamina surface sparsely pubescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses as broad as or twice as broad as the segments; venation pinnate, with 4-6 pairs of veins per segment; costae with blackish sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue on both sides (sometimes slightly visible abaxially), 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, 3—4(—5) pairs per segment, superficial to slightly sunken; sporangial capsules glabrous.
Discussion:
Lellingeria pendulina is characterized by its ciliate rhizome scales, sparsely pubescent petioles and rachises, and completely pinnate laminae. It is similar to L. barbensis from Costa Rica, which differs by having membranaceous laminae and glabrescent rachises, whereas L. pendulina has chartaceous laminae and pubescent rachises. It is also similar to L. pseudocapillaris in having pinnate laminae and ciliate rhizome scales. It differs, however, by having the segments broader at the base and straight rachises, whereas the segments are constricted at the base, and the rachises are flexuous in L. pseudocapillaris.
Lellingeria pendulina is characterized by its ciliate rhizome scales, sparsely pubescent petioles and rachises, and completely pinnate laminae. It is similar to L. barbensis from Costa Rica, which differs by having membranaceous laminae and glabrescent rachises, whereas L. pendulina has chartaceous laminae and pubescent rachises. It is also similar to L. pseudocapillaris in having pinnate laminae and ciliate rhizome scales. It differs, however, by having the segments broader at the base and straight rachises, whereas the segments are constricted at the base, and the rachises are flexuous in L. pseudocapillaris.
Distribution:
Mérida Venezuela South America| Trujillo Venezuela South America|
Mérida Venezuela South America| Trujillo Venezuela South America|