Asplenium fibrillosum Pringle & Davenp.

  • 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 fibrillosum Pringle & Davenp.

  • Description

    Species Description - Roots filamentous, fibrous, not proliferous; rhizomes suberect; rhizome scales black, clathrate, 2–4 x 0.3–0.5 mm, entire; fronds clumped, 7–15 cm long; stipes castaneous, lustrous, 1.5–3 cm x 0.4–0.5 mm, ca. 1/8 of frond length, with brown, flexuous, hairlike (uniseriate at tips) scales, not winged; blades 1-pinnate, linear, 6–13 x 1.1–1.5 cm, the bases slightly to decidedly reduced, the apices tapering and with a terminal hastate or basally pinnatifid segment, not proliferous; rachises castaneous, lustrous, with scattered hair-like (uniseriate at tips) scales, adaxially with wings 0.1 mm wide or less; pinnae oblong, dimidiate, 15–25 pairs, the proximal 1–3 pairs often reduced and sometimes deflexed, 5–7 x 3–4 mm, sessile, bases slightly auriculate, apices obtuse, margins crenulate to dentate; veins obscure, but tips evident adaxially; indument abaxially of scattered appressed, whitish to tan clavate hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long; sori 1–4 pairs per pinna, on both sides of midveins; indusia 1–2 x 0.5–0.8 mm, margins fimbriate with processes 0.4–0.5 mm long; spores reniform, 64 per sporangium (Pringle 6191, UC).

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. Morelos: above Cuernavaca, Pringle 6191 (GH!; isotypes CAS!, MEXU!-2 sheets, MO!, NY!, UC!, US!).

    The small plant size, hair-like clathrate stipe and rachis scales, and fimbriate indusia distinguish this species. The closest relative is very likely A. blepharodes, from Baja California, which see. Diminutive forms of A. castaneum are also similar, but that species has less scaly rachises and entire to slightly erose indusia. Rzedowski 47913 (IEB), from Guanajuato, has less strikingly fimbriate indusia than typical forms but is certainly A. fibrillosum, rather than A. castaneum, as cited by Di´az-Barriga and Palacios- Rios (1992).

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial and epipetric in ravines and barrancas in pine-oak forests, on mossy banks, and on sheltered ledges and grottos in lava fields; 1700–3900 m. Mexico.

    Mexico North America|