Asplenium feei Kunze

  • 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 feei Kunze

  • Description

    Species Description - Roots coarse, fibrous, not proliferous; rhizomes suberect, densely scaly at apices; rhizome scales red-brown, clathrate, 5–10 x 1.5–3(–4) mm, entire or with occasional marginal teeth; fronds clumped, 20–90 cm long; stipes brown, dull, (8–)15–30 cm x 2–4 mm, 1/4–1/2 of frond length, at bases with dense narrow, twisted or curled clathrate scales 3–4 mm long, not winged; blades thickherbaceous, 1-pinnate, not reduced proximally, 25–35(–60) x 10– 25 cm, apices subconform, not proliferous; rachises green to brown, dull, with scattered scales 1.5–2 mm long, narrowly winged; pinnae lanceolate, 6–14 pairs, 4–12 x (0.8–)1.5–2.5 cm, stalked 1–2(–4) mm, bases equilateral to inequilateral, excavate basiscopically, sometimes roundish-auriculate acroscopically, apices attenuate, margins crenate, serrate, or biserrate; veins 1-or 2-forked, tips evident adaxially; indument abaxially of brown, clathrate, attenuate to stellate-attenuate scales to 1 mm on and between veins, scales often pectinate at bases; sori elliptical, 10–12 pairs per pinna, on both sides of midveins; indusia 3–7 x 1–2 mm, vaulted, margins entire; spores reniform.

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. Galeotti s.n. (P!, photo US).

    Asplenium sanguinolentum Kunze ex Mett., Abh. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges. 3: 142, t. 4, f. 10. 1859. Lectotype (chosen by Morton & Lellinger, 1966: 10). Brazil. Beyrich s.n. (L).

    Asplenium sarcodes Maxon, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 10: 494, t. 56, f. 3. 1908. Type. Cuba. Oriente: La Perla, Maxon 4390 (US!).

    The larger frond size, numerous scales on stipes and rachises, long rhizome scales, and short and wide indusia (3–7 x 1–2 mm) distinguish A. feei from A. tuerckheimii and A. riparium, both of which have subconform terminal pinnae. Asplenium riparium has creeping rhizomes, veins running to the pinna margins, and fewer (6–8) pairs of sori per pinna, while A. tuerckheimii has fewer pinnae (3–6), each with an equilateral base. Fronds of A. feei often dry a distinctive dark green.Asplenium anisophyllum Kunze (Linnaea 10: 511. 1836.), type from tropical Africa, resembles this species closely, and is possibly conspecific (Moran & Smith, 2001). If this is true, the name A. anisophyllum has priority. However, most African specimens seen (except from Sa˜o Tome´) have more incised pinnae than do American specimens of A. feei. Also, unpublished molecular data by Schneider et al. indicate that A. feei and A. anisophyllum, although closely related, may not be sister species.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic and terrestrial in montane rain forests; 800–1250 m. Mexico; Guat (no specimens cited by Stolze, 1981, but Bernoulli hb. guatemalens. 407, NY, is this species), Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan; Cuba, Hisp, PR; Col, Ven, Sur, Galapagos, Braz, Bol. Also reported from French Guiana by Bogan et al. (1997).

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Honduras Central America| El Salvador Central America| Nicaragua Central America| Costa Rica South America| Panama Central America| Cuba South America| West Indies| Puerto Rico South America| Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Suriname South America| Galápagos Islands Ecuador South America| Brazil South America| Bolivia South America| French Guiana French Guiana South America|