Asplenium cuspidatum Lam.

  • 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 cuspidatum Lam.

  • Description

    Species Description - Similar to A. auritum except: blades deeply pinnate-pinnatifid to 2-pinnate with dentate segments, proximal pinnae with at least an acroscopic basal lobe cut nearly to costa.

  • Discussion

    Asplenium lacerum Schltdl. & Cham., Linnaea 5: 612. 1830. Type. Mexico. [Veracruz:] prope Jalapa, Schiede & Deppe s.n. [775] (B!, frag. NY!, photo US!; isotypes HBG-photos NY!, US!; LE!-2 sheets, MO!, P.

    Asplenium mexicanum M. Martens & Galeotti, Me´m. Foug. Mexique 62, pl. 15, f. 4. 1842. Asplenium auritum Sw. var. mexicanum (M. Martens & Galeotti) Hieron., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 34: 468. 1904. Asplenium fragrans Sw. var. mexicanum (M. Martens & Galeotti) Christ, Bull. Herb. Boissier, se´r. 2, 5: 729. 1905. Type. Mexico. Veracruz: Xalapa and Mirador, Galeotti 6391 (BR!- photos UC!, US!; isotypes BR! P-frag. NY!).

    Asplenium auritum Sw. var. bipinnatifidum Kunze, Linnaea 18: 332. 1844 [1845]. Type. Mexico. Leibold 14 (LZ destroyed).

    Asplenium pyramidatum Liebm., Mexic. Bregn. 249 (reprint 97). 1849, non Desv., 1827. Lectotype (chosen by Smith, 1981: 51). Mexico. Oaxaca: [Ixtla´n] Between Tanetze and Cacalotepec, Liebmann s.n. [Fl. Mex. 333] (C!; isolectotype US!).

    Asplenium auritum Sw. var. bipinnatisectum Mett., Abh. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges. 3: 147. 1859. Lectotype (chosen by Morton & Lellinger, 1966: 20). Mexico. Schiede & Deppe s.n. [773] (B). See comments under Asplenium sphaerosporum.

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Gro (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, and Lorea-Herna´ndez & Vela´zquez M., 1998, but these specimens are most likely A. fragrans). See discussion under A. auritum. Adams (in Davidse et al., 1995) recognized A. rigidum Sw. (Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Handl. 1817: 68. 1817), type from southern Brazil (Freyreis s.n., S, photo UC!), as distinct from A. cuspidatum and ranging into southern Mexico and Central America. We are doubtful that the two species, both of which are 2-pinnate or sometimes slightly more divided, are specifically different, and even if they are distinct, we have seen nothing in Mexico that quite matches the Brazilian type. We therefore choose not to recognize this species from Mexico. Asplenium cuspidatum has been variously circumscribed, in its tortuous history, often more broadly, to include what we have here called A. fragrans (which see for further discussion).

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic or epipetric, rarely terrestrial; (350–) 800–2500 m. Mexico; Guat, Nic, Salv, CR, Pan; Cuba, L Ant; Col, Ven, Ec, Peru, Bol. Also reported from Honduras, Brazil, and Paraguay by Adams (in Davidse et al., 1995), but the species is somewhat differently circumscribed by him.

    Mexico North America| Honduras Central America| Brazil South America| Bolivia South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| West Indies| Cuba South America| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| El Salvador Central America| Nicaragua Central America| Guatemala Central America|