Dicranopteris

• Authority

  Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.

• Family

  Gleicheniaceae

• Scientific Name

  Dicranopteris

• Description

  Genus Description - Terrestrial; rhizome long-creeping, with stiff, dark, bristle-like hairs; fronds medium-sized to large; stipe very brittle, sharp-splintering, glabrous; blade pinnate to pseudodichotomously branching, the apex becoming dormant and pinnae repeatedly forking in the same way; forkings with "stipules" in the bud (dormant apex); branches continually forking except the ultimate pinnae; segments chartaceous to subcoriaceous, glabrous, often glaucous beneath; veins free, forking 2-3 times between segment midvein and margin; sori abaxial, medial, round, of 6-15(-20) sporangia; sporangium with oblique annulus; indusium lacking; spores tetrahedral or bilateral, golden, without perispore.

• Discussion

  Mertensia Willdenow, Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 25: 165. 1804, nom. illeg., non Roth, 1797. Lectotype (chosen by Bernhardi, Neues J. Bot 1(2): 38. 1806): Mertensia dichotoma (Thunberg ex Murray) Willdenow [=Polypodium dichotomum Thunberg ex Murray, =Dicranopteris dichotoma (Thunberg ex Murray) Bemhardi]. Hicriopteris Presl, Epimel. bot. 26. 1849 [1851]. Type: Hicriopteris speciosa Presl [=Dicranopteris speciosa (Presl) Holttum]. For further synonymy, see Pichi Sermolli (Webbia 26: 491-536. 1972). Dicranopteris is a genus of ten species, with only four in tropical America. The two in Mexico and Oaxaca are both widespread and are the common species of America. The genus is allied to Gleichenia, and is of an ancient and isolated lineage. It occurs at low to high elevations, on roadsides and clearings, in weedy, disturbed areas. Dicranopteris is distinct from Gleichenia by the veins forking 2-3 times and the sori of 6-20 sporangia. Reference: Maxon, W. R. 1909. Gleicheniaceae. N. Amer. Fl. 16: 53-63.