Asplenium pulchellum Raddi
-
Authority
Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.
-
Family
Aspleniaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Species Description - Roots thin, fibrous, not proliferous; rhizomes erect; rhizome scales black, clathrate, 1.5–2 x 0.5–0.8 mm, entire; fronds clumped, 5–12(–18) cm; stipes green with narrow ridges, dull, 1–6 cm x 0.3–1 mm, 1/3 or less of frond length, glabrous or with sparse clavate hairs 0.3 mm long, adaxially with narrow wings. 0.1 mm wide; blades thin-chartaceous, 4–13(–22)x 1.5–3 cm, 1- pinnate, lanceolate, slightly narrowed proximally, apices pinnatifid, not proliferous; rachises green, with sparse, appressed, clavate hairs 0.3 mm long, adaxially with green wings 0.3 mm wide; pinnae oblong-rhombic, falcate, ascending, (5–)7–15 pairs, 0.8–1.8 x 0.4–0.8 cm, dimidiate, apices obtuse, toothed on acroscopic margins, sinuses 1 mm or less deep, basiscopic margins entire on proximal 3/4; veins forked acroscopically, simple basiscopically, tips evident adaxially; indument abaxially of scattered appressed, tan clavate hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long; sori 1–5 pairs per pinna, on both sides of midveins; indusia 3–5 x 0.5–0.8 mm, margins entire; spores reniform.
-
Discussion
Type. Brazil. Mandiocca, Raddi s.n. (FI; isotypes BR-photos BM, F, UC!, US). Adams (in Davidse et al., 1995: 315) cited the holotype as at PI (photocopy MO!).
Asplenium pulchellum Raddi var. subhorizontale Rosenst., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 22: 8. 1926. Type. Costa Rica. Ri´o Sumbres, Brade 429 (isotypes NY!, UC!).
Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Tab (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but not verified and probably based on a misidentification; also reported by Magan˜a, 1992, as A. otites). Breedlove 39059 differs from other material seen in having larger fronds and reddish brown stipes and rachises, and lacking sharp teeth on the acroscopic pinna margins. Asplenium pulchellum can be confused with several 1-pinnate, green-stiped taxa, especially when these species are precociously fertile. Asplenium pulchellum differs from A. abscissum in smaller frond size (stipes 1–6 cm rather than 13–20 cm, blades usually 4–13 cm rather than 13–20 cm), shorter stipes relative to frond length (1/3 or less rather than 1/2 of frond length), smaller obtuse pinnae (0.8–1.8 cm long rather than 4.5–8 cm long and acuminate), simply serrate pinna margins (rather than biserrate), and 1-forked acroscopic veins (rather than 2-forked). From A. pteropus, A. pulchellum differs by smaller rhizome scales (1.5–2 mm vs. 6–9 mm long), narrow rachial wings, obtuse, smaller, and fewer pinnae (fewer than 10 vs. more than 30), forked acroscopic veins (vs. simple except for basal vein), and blades only slightly reduced proximally (vs. strongly tapering). Asplenium pulchellum is similar to A. hoffmannii in number of pinnae, rhizome scale size, stipe color and wings, and relative stipe length, but differs in the erect rhizomes, smaller pinnae with low serrations (sinuses 1 mm or less deep vs. 1–2 mm deep), narrower, more linear blades (vs. ovate), and entire (vs. suberose) indusia. The relationship with A. otites Link, the type of which is a cultivated specimen of uncertain origin (holotype B, isotype BR, photo NY!), is unclear. Morton and Lellinger (1966: 26) circumscribed A. otites in the sense that A. pulchellum is applied here; in this they were followed by Smith (1985) and Mickel and Beitel (1988). According to Morton and Lellinger, A. otites differs from A. pulchellum primarily in its more numerous, often forking veins.
-
Distribution
Epipetric on shaded limestone bluffs; 200–400(– 1000) m. Mexico; Hond (Thieme 26, UC), Salv, Nic (Proctor et al. 26987, LL), CR, Pan; Col, Ven, Ec, Peru, Braz, Bol. Also reported from Nicaragua, and Paraguay by Adams (in Davidse et al., 1995).
Nicaragua Central America| Paraguay South America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America| Ecuador South America| Venezuela South America| Panama Central America| Honduras Central America| México Mexico North America|