Alsophila salvinii Hook.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Cyatheaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Alsophila salvinii Hook.

  • Description

    Species Description - Trunks 3–6 m tall; stipes atropurpureous, tuberculate, with 6–10 pairs of reduced skeletonized pinnae (aphlebiae); stipe spines absent; stipe scales castaneous, 2–3 mm wide, with pale erose margins and short ephemeral apical setae, reduced squamulae intermixed; blades to 3.5 m long, 3-pinnate to 3-pinnatepinnatifid, pinnae subsessile to stalked 0.5–4 cm, pinnules sessile to short-stalked 3 mm long at bases; segments 1.2–2.4 cm wide, cut shallowly to halfway to the midvein, glabrous; rachises and costae atropurpureous to dark brown, with dark brown marginate scales and bullate scales, costae hairy adaxailly; veins 1–2-forked, basal lobes with veins 2-forked to pinnate; sori medial, naked; indusia absent.

  • Discussion

    Cyathea salvinii (Hook.) Domin, Pterid. Dominica 263. 1929. Type. Guatemala. Chilasco, Salvin & Godman s.n. (K!-2 sheets). Alsophila muenchii Christ, Bull. Herb. Boissier, se´r. 2, 5: 734. 1905 [“munchii”]. Type. Mexico. Chiapas: San Pablo, Mu¨nch 139 (P!, as “isotype”; isotypes DS!, US!).

    Alsophila salvinii is distinct in its dark frond axes and the presence of reduced, skeletonized pinnae (aphlebiae). As old trunks fall, buds develop on the trunk, take root, and develop into independent trees. This species is most closely related to species in Madagascar and Borneo (Conant, 1983).

  • Distribution

    Wet montane forests of Atlantic slope; 900–2500 m. Mexico; Guat, Bel (Holst 5854, UC), Hond, Salv, Nic; Peru.

    Peru South America| Nicaragua Central America| El Salvador Central America| Honduras Central America| Belize Central America| Guatemala Central America| México Mexico North America|