Anemia phyllitidis (L.) Sw.

Authority

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

Family

Anemiaceae

Scientific Name

Anemia phyllitidis (L.) Sw.

Description

Species Description - Rhizomes ascending, 5–10 mm diam.; rhizome hairs orange; fronds erect, 20–70 cm long; stipes 1/2–2/3 the frond length, 0.7– 1.7 mm diam., stramineous, hirsute; blades deltate, 1-pinnate, (8– )12–26 cm wide, with conform terminal pinna; pinnae 2–5 pairs, opposite to subopposite, lanceolate, rounded at bases, shortpetiolate 1–4 mm, apices acuminate, margins finely serrulate; blade surfaces hirsute on costae but mostly glabrous; veins netted; fertile pinnae approximate to the sterile pinnae, slightly to far surpassing the sterile blades in height; spores striate, ridges with blunt spines; 2n=152 (Chis, Oax, and elsewhere), also probably 76 (Oax).

Discussion

Osmunda phyllitidis L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1064. 1753. Anemidictyon phyllitidis (L.) J. Sm. in Hooker, Gen. Fil., t. 103. 1842. Type. Plumier, Traite´ Foug. Ame´r., pl. 156, 1705, based on a plant from Hispaniola.

Anemia phyllitidis is widespread in tropical America, but uncommon in Mexico. It is distinct in its netted veins and pinna shape. It resembles A. mexicana superficially but differs in its netted veins, thin texture, and fertile pinnae approximate to the sterile blades. It is distinct from A. muenchii in the acuminate pinnae and more extensively netted veins. It apparently has crossed with A. hirsuta to form the hexaploid hexaploid (or triploid apomict), A. semihirsuta. Although the diploid form has not been found, cytological evidence suggests its presence now or in the past. See A. semihirsuta for more details (also Mickel, 1982). The presumed backcross of A. semihirsuta to A. phyllitidis (Anemia x paraphyllitidis Mickel, Brittonia 34: 407. 1982. Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Distrito Villa Alta, trail from Villa Alta to airstrip, Mickel 1118, NY!; Anemia collina sensu M. Martens & Galeotti, Me´m. Foug. Mexique 20. 1842, non Raddi, 1819; Figs. 20A, B) resembles A. phyllitidis, but has only casually anastomosing veins (mostly 25–32 anastomoses per pinna), malformed spores, and meiotic counts of ca. 38II + 76I and ca. 38II + 114I (Oax). The pinnae of the young fronds are oval but more elongate on mature fronds. It is most often confused with A. muenchii, which see for further discussion. Anemia x paraphyllitidis is known from Mexico (Hgo, Oax, Chis), El Salvador, Costa Rica, Hispaniola, and Venezuela. Go´mez (Brenesia 18: 156. 1980) described Anemia x didicusana as a hybrid between A. hirsuta and A. phyllitidis in Costa Rica, but the hybridization between these two species is very complex, involving fertile and/or sterile crosses with multiple ploidal levels of at least one of the parents. Examination of holotype, isotype, and paratype material of A. x didicusana has shown it to be very close to A. x paraphyllitidis. Plants of A. xdidicusana have 3–6 pairs of incised pinnae, whereas A. x paraphyllitidis has entire pinnae or only a single incision in the basal pinnae-pair; there seems to be a difference in the number of anastomoses per pinna between the two entities. The complexity of the hybridization and the uniformity of other material of A. xparaphyllitidis causes us to maintain A. x didicusana as distinct until living material from Costa Rica can be studied.

Distribution

Moist slopes of scrubby roadbanks or in woods along streams, widespread; (300-)800-1900 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan; Gr Ant; Col, Ven, Trin, Guy, Sur, Ec, Peru, Braz, Bol, Parag, Arg, Uru.

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