Asplenium seileri C.D.Adams

  • 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 seileri C.D.Adams

  • Description

    Species Description - Roots thin, fibrous, not proliferous; rhizomes erect; rhizome scales dark brown to black, clathrate, 1.5–2.5(–3) x 0.4–0.7 mm, entire; fronds densely clumped, 15–20 cm long; stipes brownish, dull, 0.5–4 cm x 0.6–0.8 mm, 1/5 or less of frond length, narrowly green- or brown-winged to bases, glabrous or with sparse clavate hairs 0.3 mm long, wings to ca. 0.2 mm wide; blades thin-chartaceous, 12–18 x 1.5–2.5(–3) cm, 1-pinnate, linearelliptic, decidedly narrowed proximally, apices pinnatifid, nonproliferous or with small buds at the tips of blades; rachises greenish, dull, with sparse clavate hairs 0.3 mm long, adaxially with greenish wings 0.2–0.3 mm wide; pinnae oblong, spreading, falcate, 30–40 pairs, 0.8–1.5 x 0.4(–0.6) cm, dimidiate, apices obtuse, margins minutely crenulate acroscopically, sinuses mostly 0.5 mm or less deep, basiscopic margins entire in proximal 3/4; veins simple, tips evident adaxially; indument abaxially of scattered, tan, appressed, clavate hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long; sori 3–6 on acroscopic sides of pinnae, 2–4 on basiscopic sides; indusia 1.5–3 x 0.4–0.5 mm, margins entire; spores reniform.

  • Discussion

    Type. El Salvador. Laguna Verde, Seiler 957 (F).

    This species is most similar to A. pulchellum, but differs from that in the more numerous pinnae (ca. 30–40 pairs) and the minutely crenulate pinna margins. In Mexico, it is known from a collection from Mt. Ovando and another from Volca´n Tacana´. The Matuda collection was cited by Smith (1981: 55) as possibly representing an undescribed species. Matuda 186 (MEXU p.p., US), from Pasital, seems to be A. potosinum, vel aff. The Croat collection cited bears small buds at the tips of some blades.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial or epiphytic in montane forests; ca. 1700 m. Mexico; Guat, Salv. Also reported from Costa Rica by Adams (in Davidse et al., 1995: 319).

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| El Salvador Central America|