Cheilanthes skinneri (Hook.) T.Moore

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cheilanthes skinneri (Hook.) T.Moore

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes compact, horizontal, 2–4 mm diam.; rhizome scales linear, 4–5 mm long, bicolorous with dark reddish brown to black center and tan margins, the margins proximally with long hairs (1 mm); fronds to 50 cm long, approximate; stipes 1/2–2/3 the frond length, green to stramineous, grooved, sparsely clothed with pale linear scales and hairs; blades 2–4-pinnate-pinnatifid, broadly deltate to ovate-lanceolate, basal pair of pinnae exaggerated basiscopically, pinnae alternate to subopposite at blade base, often resulting in somewhat flexuous rachises, pinnule rachises and blade rachises with green stripes adaxially; segments deltatelanceolate; adaxial surfaces glabrous; abaxial surfaces glabrous except for sparse hairs or narrow scales (to 1 mm) on costae and major veins; veins conspicuous; sori marginal, with distinct false indusia 0.5 mm wide, broken into flaps 0.5–1 mm long; spores tan.

  • Discussion

    Pellaea skinneri Hook., Sp. Fil. 2: 141, t. 118B. 1858. Type. Guatemala. Skinner s.n. (K!). Pellaea flavescens E. Fourn., Mexic. Pl. 1: 119. 1872, hom. illeg., non Fe´e, 1869. Pellaea fournieri Baker in Hooker & Baker, Syn. Fil. 486. 1874. Doryopteris fournieri (Baker) C. Chr., Index Filic. 244. 1905. Type. Mexico. [Morelos:] Cuernavaca, Bourgeau s.n. (P!).

    Cheilanthes skinneri is distinct in its deltate blades, stramineous stipes and rachises, and the indusia often interrupted into 0.5–1 mm long flaps. It is remarkable, considering the great difference in soral configuration, that C. skinneri apparently crosses with Hemionitis subcordata to form a fertile diploid hybrid, Hemionanthes gryphus (Mickel, 1987), which see for discussion.

  • Distribution

    Moist, exposed or shaded banks; 50–2450 m. Mexico; Guat, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan; Col.

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