Ctenitis equestris (Kunze) Ching

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Dryopteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ctenitis equestris (Kunze) Ching

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes erect, stout, caudices to ca. 4 cm diam.; fronds large, to ca. 150 cm long or more; stipes stramineous to tan, ca. 1/3-1/2 the frond length, 30-75 cm x 3-8 mm, bases with dense brown to orange-brown scales 8-15 x 0.8-1.5 mm, above the bases sparsely to moderately scaly, the scales lanceolate, 3-6 mm long, clathrate, black-walled in middle with pale margins; blades green to yellow-green, deltate, mostly 3-4-pinnate-pinnatifid proximally, 2-3-pinnate-pinnatifid distally, to 25-80 x 30-90 cm; rachises abaxially with scales similar to those of stipes but shorter, especially concentrated at pinna bases; pinnae ca. 15 pairs, proximal pair the largest, stalked to 2-8 cm, 17-50 x 12-40 cm, inequilaterally deltate, pinnules much more developed basiscopically, largest pinnules with pinnulets pinnate to pinnatisect; segments entire to crenulate, rounded to acute at tips, margins ciliate with usually minute hairs 0.1-0.2 mm; veins simple or forked, reaching margins above the sinuses; indument on costae and costules abaxially of scattered, orangish, red-brown, or brown-black, often clathrate and iridescent, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, flat or vaulted scales 1-2 x 0.3-0.5 mm, also sometimes with jointed hairs 0.1 mm long; laminae between veins glabrous on both sides, or abaxially with appressed glandular hairs 0.1-0.3 mm, occasionally with minute erect glands or glandular hairs 0.1mmlong; sori medial, exindusiate or with small, caducous indusia, these often hidden in mature sori.

  • Discussion

    Aspidium equestre Kunze, Linnaea 18: 347. 1844. Dryopteris equestris (Kunze) C. Chr., Kongel. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Skr., Naturvidensk. Math. Afd., ser. 8, 6: 54. 1920. Type. Mexico. Leibold 42 (LZ, destroyed; isotype B!; Leibold 42bis at HBG-photo LL!).

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial in wet montane forests; 700-2700 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan.

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