Dicranopteris pectinata (Willd.) Underw.

  • 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 pectinata (Willd.) Underw.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizome long-creeping, with deciduous, reddish-brown hairs 2-3 mm long, leaving surface scabrous; stipe stramineous to light brown, glabrous, dull; frond apex dormant (rarely continuing), pinnae usually forking unequally to form an ultimate or penultimate forking and continuing rachilla, axes with narrow lateral ridges; each fork containing a tuft of reddish hairs and a pair of small, entire to pinnately lobed or forking "stipules," lacking accessory pinnae beneath the fork; penultimate segments paired, pectinate, linear, lanceolate or ovate; ultimate segments linear, chartaceous to coriaceous, glabrous, glaucous beneath, margins revolute at least on fertile segments, apex emarginate; veins 2-4-forked; sori inframedial between margin and midvein, with 7-15 sporangia; spores bilateral.

  • Discussion

    Mertensia pectinata Willdenow, Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 25: 168. 1804. Gleichenia pectinata (Willdenow) Presl, Reliq. haenk. 1: 71. 1825. Gleichenella pectinata (Willdenow) Ching, Sunyatsenia 5: 276. 1940. Type. Venezuela. Caracas, Bredemeyer (B-Willd. 19465!). Gleichenia nitida Presl, Reliq. haenk. 1: 70. 1825. Type. Mexico. Haenke s.n. (PR; frags. NY!, US!). Mertensia glaucescens Humboldt & Bonpland ex Willdenow var. mexicana Fée, Mém. foug. 11: 121. 1866. Type. Mexico. Galeotti 6402 (P!, isotype BR!). Dicranopteris pectinata is distinguishable from D. flexuosa by lacking accessory pinnae beneath any branching (not to be confused with the pair of “stipules” subtending bud but within the branching of the axes) and having narrow lateral ridges on all axes except the stipe (especially pronounced on axes below ultimate branching).

  • Distribution

    Upright or trailing, forming dense patches on open, dry to moist slopes; Choapan, Cuicatlán, Ixtlán, Juchitán, Juquila, Mixe, Po\chutla, Putla, Teotitlán, Tlaxiaco, Tuxtepec, Villa Alta; 100-2150 m. Mexico (Hgo, Mex, Ver, Pue, Gro, Oax, Chis); Guat to Pan; WI, Trin; Col to Fr Gui, to Bol & Braz.

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