Asplenium blepharophorum Bertol.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Aspleniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Asplenium blepharophorum Bertol.

  • Description

    Species Description - Roots coarse, fibrous, not proliferous; rhizomes erect; rhizome scales brown to tan, clathrate, 5-15 x 1-2.5 mm, with a few marginal cilia; fronds clumped, (30-)45-100 cm long; stipes brownish green to gray-brown, dull, 8-35 cm x 2-5 mm, 1/3 of frond length, densely clothed with clathrate scales, lacking wings; blades chartaceous, 15-65 x 6-27 cm, usually 2-pinnatebipinnatifid, ovate-lanceolate, proximal pinnae the largest or 1-2 pairs sometimes slightly reduced, apices pinnatifid or abortive, ending in terminal buds, or buds in axils of distal pinnae, rarely buds absent; rachises yellow to gray-brown, with scattered clathrate scales 0.8-1 mm long, somewhat flattened, but not alate; pinnae 15-25 pairs, 3-14 x (1-)2-4 cm, sessile, bases truncate, sometimes narrowed on proximal pinnae, costae alate, pinnules deeply pinnatifid or pinnate (at least the larger ones), with 3-4 pairs of lobes, these obtuse to acute, sometimes bifid at tips; veins evident on both sides, tips not significantly enlarged or more visible; indument abaxially of numerous clathrate scales on costae and costules, also with tan to whitish scattered, appressed, clavate hairs 0.2-0.3 mm on veins and tissue between veins; sori 2-4 pairs per pinnule; indusia whitish, thick, 2-3 x 0.8-1 mm, margins entire or suberose; spores globose.

  • Discussion

    Type. Guatemala “Vulcano d’acqua” [Volca´n de Agua], Vellasquez s.n. (BOLO). Typification discussed by R. E. G. Pichi Sermolli & M. P. Bizzarri. 1990-91. Mem. Accad. Lunigianese Sci. “Giovanni Capellini” 40-41: 209-210, t. 43.

    Athyrium macrocarpon Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 5: 188. 1852. Asplenium macrocarpon (Fe´e) T. Moore, Index Fil. 143. 1859, hom. illeg., non Desv., 1827. Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Llano Verde, Galeotti 6555 (P; isotypes K!, US!).

    Asplenium myapteron Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 8: 82. 1857. Syntypes. Mexico. [Veracruz:] Orizaba, Schaffner 70 (RB); Popocate´petl, Schaffner 294 (RB).

    Asplenium commutatum Mett. ex Kuhn, Linnaea 36: 99. 1869. Syntypes. Mexico. Schaffner s.n. (B!-photo US!; isosyntype K, photo BM); Oaxaca, Galeotti 6555 (isosyntypes K!, US!); Veracruz: Orizaba, Mu¨ller s.n. (B!; isosyntypes BM, NY!) [“Mu¨ller 1487”]; Guatemala. Salvin & Godman 67, 93; Skinner s.n. (all presumably B).

    Asplenium onustum Christ in Pittier, Prim. Fl. Costaric. 3(1): 24. 1901. Type. Costa Rica. Copey, Tonduz s.n. [Herb. no. 11931] (P; isotype BR, US!). Asplenium subvestitum Copel., Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 19: 289, t. 39. 1941. Type. Mexico. Guerrero: Dto. Mina, W of Petlacala, Mexia 9065 (UC!; isotypes CAS!, F, K!, NY!, US!).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Nay (reported by Mickel, 1992, but not verified; possibly the specimen seen was A. eatonii). The A. blepharophorum complex, which also includes A. eatonii and A. achilleifolium, is variable with regard to the presence or absence of subterminal buds. Specimens with buds (Mickel 3810b, 4129, 4692, 4916, NY, UC), here referred to A. blepharophorum, generally have blades broadest at the bases, or the proximal pair of pinnae only slightly reduced. Of the specimens without buds, some have the proximal pinnae greatly reduced; these correspond to what is here called A. eatonii, in western Mexico. Other budless specimens have blades more or less identical to A. blepharophorum, and are here referred to that species. Asplenium achilleifolium differs in having much less scaly stipes, rachises, costae, and costules. More work is necessary to determine the relationship and status of these variations. There is an indication (large globose spores) that apogamy may be operative in A. blepharophorum.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial or epipetric, moist ravines, montane rain forests, cloud forests, fir forests; 1150-3100 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, CR, Pan; Hisp. Cited from El Salvador by Adams (in Davidse et al., 1995: 298). Also reported from Nicaragua by Gómez (1976: 52).

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Honduras Central America| Costa Rica South America| Panama Central America| Haiti South America| Dominican Republic South America| El Salvador Central America| Nicaragua Central America|