Lellingeria jimenezii Labiak

Authority

Labiak Evangelista, Paulo H. 2013. Grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae). I. . Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 111: 1--130. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family

Polypodiaceae

Scientific Name

Lellingeria jimenezii Labiak

Type

Type. Bolivia, Dept. La Paz: Prov. Nor Yungas, Parque Nacional y Area Natural de Manejo Integrado Cotapata, Estacion Biologica Tunquini, senda antigua a la mina, 16°11' S, 67°52' W, 1860 m, 16 Apr 2004, I. Jimenez & M. Alem 2139 (holotype, NY; isotypes, LPB, UC).

Description

Latin Diagnosis - Lellingeria jimenezii a L. oreophilam similis, a qua caulis squamae lanceolatae usque 2 mm longae, lamina subcoriacea et 6-8 soris in quoque segmento differt. Ex contrario, L. oreophila caulis squamae lineari-lanceolatae usque 4 mm longae, lamina chartacea et 4 sori in quoque segmento habet.

Species Description - Plants epiphytic; fronds erect to arcuate, determinate; rhizome short-creeping, dorsiventral, with ventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 1.5-2 x 0.3-0.6 mm, lanceolate, the apex short-attenuate, clathrate, reddish, ciliate, the cilia simple, present on scale margins and apex (apical cilia sometimes furcate); petiole 2-3 x 1 mm, dark brown, terete, densely pubescent, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple or 1-furcate, 2- to 3-celled, whitish; lamina to (10—)15—30 cm long, lanceolate, subcoriaceous, deeply pinnatisect, (20-)40-50 pairs of segments, abruptly reduced at the base with 3-5 basal segments shorter than the median ones, broadest in the middle, showing periodic constrictions, the apex abruptly reduced, pinnatifid, or ending in a subconform segment; rachis straight, with dark sclerenchyma throughout its length, the sclerenchyma visible on both sides, glabrous or sparsely pubescent abaxially, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, ap-pressed, simple or 1-furcate, 2- to 3-celled, whitish to castaneous, pubescent adaxially, hairs ca. 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple, 2- to 3-celled, reddish; segments ca. 1.5-2 cm x 3 mm, plane, set 80-90° to rachis, slightly widened and symmetric at the base, short-decurrent basiscopically, cuneate acroscopically, the base attached parallel on the rachis (i.e., both sides inserted along the same radius), not lobulate or overlapping the base of the next segment, the apex acute to obtuse, the margin entire, plane or slightly revolute, sparsely pubescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, abaxial lamina surface glabrescent, the hairs furcate, similar to those of the rachis abaxially, and some hairs simple, 2-celled, dark brown, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses about the same width as the segments; venation pinnate, with 7—10(—12) pairs of veins per segment; costae with blackish sclerenchyma visible or only slightly obscured by laminar tissue abaxially, completely obscured by laminar tissue adaxially, 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 restricted to the apical portion of the segment, not protruding beyond the costa and margin, 6-8 pairs per segment, superficial; sporangial capsules glabrous.

Discussion

Lellingeria jimenezii is similar to L. oreophila, but differs in having lanceolate (to 2 mm long), golden brown, rhizome scales; subcoriaceous laminae; and 6-8 sori per segment evenly distributed along the length of each segment (not restricted to the apical portion). In contrast, the rhizome scales are linear-lanceolate, longer (3-4 mm long), and dark gray in L. oreophila. In addition, the lamina is chartaceous, and there are 3-4 sori per segment that are restricted to the apical portion.

Distribution

Endemic to Bolivia at 1800-1950 m elevation.

La Paz Bolivia South America|