Anemia semihirsuta Mickel

  • 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 semihirsuta Mickel

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes horizontal, compact, short-creeping, 4–7 mm diam.; rhizome hairs orange; fronds erect, 10–30 cm tall; stipes 6– 18 cm long, ca. 1/2 the frond length, ca. 1 mm diam., stramineous, hirsute; blades narrowly oblong or narrowly deltate, 1-pinnate, the proximal 1–5 pairs of pinnae incised, chartaceous, hirsute; pinnae 5–10 pairs, opposite to subopposite, broadly oblong, cuneate at bases, often excavate basiscopically on lower margin, apices obtuse, margins minutely denticulate; veins mostly free, with 0–2(–6) anastomoses per pinna; fertile pinnae approximate to the sterile pinnae, usually somewhat surpassing the sterile blades in height; spores with rugulose, narrow, distant ridges; 2n=228 (Oax).

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Distrito Villa Alta, trail from Villa Alta to airstrip, Mickel 1120 (NY!).

    This species is apparently of hybrid origin between A. hirsuta and a diploid race of A. phyllitidis. See Mickel (1982) for details. It may well be a triploid apomict rather than a sexual hexaploid, but at this time we are uncertain. The backcross of A. semihirsuta to A hirsuta shows 2n= ca. 76II and 38I at meiosis (Oax). A collection with narrower pinnae, but with well formed spores, is probably of this species (Chis: Matuda 17901, DS, F, MEXU). A Chiapas collection (Matuda 1767, MICH, NY) that has malformed spores and casually anastomosing veins differs from typical A. semihirsuta in having larger pinnae and resembles A. x didicusana (see discussion under A. phyllitidis).

  • Distribution

    Uncommon on disturbed, partially shaded banks in mesic forests; 900–1600 m. Mexico; Nic.

    Nicaragua Central America| México Mexico North America|