Asplenium sessilifolium Desv.

• 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 sessilifolium Desv.

• Description

  Species Description - Roots wiry, fibrous, not proliferous; rhizomes erect; rhizome scales black to dark brown, clathrate, 2–3(–5) x 1–1.3 mm, with occasional teeth; fronds clumped, mostly 25–45 cm long; stipes dark reddish brown, dull, 3–10 cm x 0.5–1 mm, 1/6–1/4 of frond length, glabrous except for basal scales, with narrow wings 0.1 mm wide; blades herbaceous, mostly 20–40 x 2.5–5 cm, pinnatepinnatifid, pinnatifid at apices, most blades terminating in small scaly buds, linear-lanceolate, tapering proximally, stalked to 1 mm; rachises castaneous, dull, glabrous, adaxially with wings 0.1– 0.2 mm wide; pinnae 22–50 pairs, 1.3–2.5 x 0.5–1.5 cm, sessile or stalked < 1 mm, the most developed each with a single obovate or flabellate, nearly free superior basal segment, apices acute to acuminate, margins bicrenately toothed, crenate-serrate towards tips; veins mostly 5–8 pairs per pinna, simple except in basal acroscopic lobe, tips evident adaxially; indument abaxially of scattered, appressed, tan, clavate hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long; sori 2–8 pairs per pinna, on both sides of midveins, 0–3 on superior basal segments; indusia 1.5–3.5 x 0.4–0.6 mm, margins entire; spores reniform; 2n=72 (Chis, var. sessilifolium).

• Discussion

  Type. “America equinoctiali.” s. coll. s.n. (P!, photos BM, US; isotype B!).