Adiantum latifolium Lam.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Adiantum latifolium Lam.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes long-creeping, ca. 2–3 mm diam.; rhizome scales concolorous, light brown with thick, dark brown cell walls, 2–3 x 0.5–0.8 mm, margins entire to sparsely denticulate; fronds distant, 30–75 cm long, arching; stipes atropurpureous, 30–50 cm x 2–3 mm, 1/2–2/3 the frond length, with pectinate scales to 3 mm, glabrescent; blades deltate, 2-pinnate, 20–32 cm wide, each blade with a conform terminal pinna; rachises atropurpureous, with tan pectinate scales mostly 1–2 mm long; pinnae 1–4 pairs, alternate, proximal pinnules reduced, stalk color stopping +/- abruptly at pinnule bases; pinnules denticulate, stalked to 1 mm, largest 20–55 x 6–12 mm, distal pinnules on each pinna ca. 1/2 the length of the longest pinnules, tips acute to rounded, nonarticulate; veins free, forking; ending in small teeth; indument absent on both sides of blades, often glaucous abaxially; idioblasts present on both blade surfaces but often rather faint abaxially; sori to 18 per pinnule, on acroscopic and basiscopic margins; indusia 1–5 mm long, oblong to linear, glabrous; 2n=120 (Jam).

  • Discussion

    Neotype (designated by Proctor, 1977: 114). Guadeloupe. Basse Terre, Proctor 20110 (A; isoneotype US!).

    Adiantum lucidum Sw. var. bipinnatum Mett. ex E. Fourn., Mexic. Pl. 1: 129. 1872. Lectotype (chosen by Lellinger, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 13. 1972). Mexico. Tabasco: Teapa, Linden s.n. (P, photo US!). For additional synonymy, see Lellinger (1989: 148). Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Jal (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but the specimens are all A. mcvaughii). Nay (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but the specimens are all A. mcvaughii). QR (Torres 715, CIQRO, cited by Palacios-Rios, 2002c, but not verified). Among the Mexican species with idioblasts on the adaxial epidermis, this bipinnate species is distinguishable by its longcreeping rhizomes and large, acute pinnules. The closest relative in Mexico is probably A. mcvaughii.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial in lowland and lower montane rain forests, deciduous tropical forests; 50–600 m. Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan; Gr & L Ant; Col, Ven, Trin, Guy, Sur, Fr Gui, Ec, Peru, Braz, Bol, Parag, Arg.

    Paraguay South America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| French Guiana South America| Suriname Suriname South America| Guyana South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Venezuela South America| West Indies| Panama Central America| Nicaragua Central America| El Salvador Central America| Honduras Central America| Belize Central America| Guatemala Central America| México Mexico North America|