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 randallii Maxon, Ctenopteris randallii (Maxon) Copel., Grammitis randallii (Maxon) Proctor, Lellingeria brenesii A.Rojas
Polypodium randallii Maxon, Ctenopteris randallii (Maxon) Copel., Grammitis randallii (Maxon) Proctor, Lellingeria brenesii A.Rojas
Description:
Species Description - Plants epiphytic; fronds erect to arcuate, determinate; rhizome erect, radial, with ventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 0.5-0.7 x 0.1-0.2 mm, lanceolate, the apex short-attenuate, clathrate, dark brown, ciliate, the cilia simple, present on scale margins and apex; petiole 0.5-1 x 0.2 mm, dark brown, narrowly winged, glabrescent or sparsely pubescent, the hairs ca. 0.2 mm long, appressed, 1-furcate, 3-celled, whitish; lamina to 8 cm long, lanceolate, membranaceous, deeply pinnatisect, 10-20 pairs of segments, abruptly reduced at the base with 1-2 basal segments about Vi shorter than the median ones, broadest above the base, not showing periodic constrictions, the apex gradually reduced, pinnatifid, not ending in a conform or subconform segment; rachis slightly flexuous, with dark sclerenchyma visible only abaxially, sparsely pubescent abaxially, glabrescent adaxially, hairs ca. 0.1 mm long, appressed, 1-furcate, 3-celled, whitish; segments ca. 0.5-0.7 cm x 0.3-0.4 mm, plane, set 70-80° to rachis, widened and asymmetric at the base, decurrent basiscopically, cuneate and lobulate acroscopically, the base attached parallel on the rachis (i.e., both sides inserted along the same radius), the lobule not overlapping the base of the next segment, the apex acute, the margin entire to crenate (at least in the acroscopic side), the lobules acute, glabrous, abaxial lamina surface glabrescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses narrower than or the same size as the segments; venation pinnate, with 2-3(-4) pairs of veins per segment; costae with blackish sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue on both sides, sparsely pubescent abaxially, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, glabrous adaxially; veins simple, without blackish sclerenchyma, ending in hydathodes that sometimes have calcareous deposits; sori medial, rounded, not protruding beyond the costa and margin, up to 2-3 pairs per segment, superficial; sporangial capsules glabrous.
Species Description - Plants epiphytic; fronds erect to arcuate, determinate; rhizome erect, radial, with ventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 0.5-0.7 x 0.1-0.2 mm, lanceolate, the apex short-attenuate, clathrate, dark brown, ciliate, the cilia simple, present on scale margins and apex; petiole 0.5-1 x 0.2 mm, dark brown, narrowly winged, glabrescent or sparsely pubescent, the hairs ca. 0.2 mm long, appressed, 1-furcate, 3-celled, whitish; lamina to 8 cm long, lanceolate, membranaceous, deeply pinnatisect, 10-20 pairs of segments, abruptly reduced at the base with 1-2 basal segments about Vi shorter than the median ones, broadest above the base, not showing periodic constrictions, the apex gradually reduced, pinnatifid, not ending in a conform or subconform segment; rachis slightly flexuous, with dark sclerenchyma visible only abaxially, sparsely pubescent abaxially, glabrescent adaxially, hairs ca. 0.1 mm long, appressed, 1-furcate, 3-celled, whitish; segments ca. 0.5-0.7 cm x 0.3-0.4 mm, plane, set 70-80° to rachis, widened and asymmetric at the base, decurrent basiscopically, cuneate and lobulate acroscopically, the base attached parallel on the rachis (i.e., both sides inserted along the same radius), the lobule not overlapping the base of the next segment, the apex acute, the margin entire to crenate (at least in the acroscopic side), the lobules acute, glabrous, abaxial lamina surface glabrescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses narrower than or the same size as the segments; venation pinnate, with 2-3(-4) pairs of veins per segment; costae with blackish sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue on both sides, sparsely pubescent abaxially, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, glabrous adaxially; veins simple, without blackish sclerenchyma, ending in hydathodes that sometimes have calcareous deposits; sori medial, rounded, not protruding beyond the costa and margin, up to 2-3 pairs per segment, superficial; sporangial capsules glabrous.
Discussion:
Lellingeria randallii is characterized by its small size (to 8 cm long), ciliate rhizome scales, asymmetri- cal segments that vary from entire to crenulate, and acute segment apices (and lobules). The degree of segment division can vary, and often the lobules are present only on the acroscopic side of the segment, whereas the basiscopic sides are entire.This species is very similar to Lellingeria hombersleyi, which can be distinguished by having more symmetrical segments with both margins (acroscopic and basiscopic) equally and conspicuously crenulate and apices of the segments and lobules obtuse.Some specimens from Panama and Costa Rica (Valdespino et al. 340 and 345) are unusual because they have very small and spatulate segments, and the rachis is flexuous, similar to some specimens of Lellingeria hombersleyi. However, these seem to be young specimens, and in my opinion, are just within the variation possible for L. randalli.
Lellingeria randallii is characterized by its small size (to 8 cm long), ciliate rhizome scales, asymmetri- cal segments that vary from entire to crenulate, and acute segment apices (and lobules). The degree of segment division can vary, and often the lobules are present only on the acroscopic side of the segment, whereas the basiscopic sides are entire.This species is very similar to Lellingeria hombersleyi, which can be distinguished by having more symmetrical segments with both margins (acroscopic and basiscopic) equally and conspicuously crenulate and apices of the segments and lobules obtuse.Some specimens from Panama and Costa Rica (Valdespino et al. 340 and 345) are unusual because they have very small and spatulate segments, and the rachis is flexuous, similar to some specimens of Lellingeria hombersleyi. However, these seem to be young specimens, and in my opinion, are just within the variation possible for L. randalli.
Distribution:
Canal Zone Panamá Central America| Panamá Panama Central America| Darién Panamá Central America|
Canal Zone Panamá Central America| Panamá Panama Central America| Darién Panamá Central America|