Danaea cuspidata Liebm.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Marattiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Danaea cuspidata Liebm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes short-creeping, green, 7–13 mm diam.; rhizome scales dark; fronds to 120 cm tall; stipes 18–36 cm long, ca. 1/2 or slightly less the frond length, green-brown, with (0–)2–4 swollen nodes, with dense (especially at nodes) to remote, brown, appressed scales; blades 75–165 x 20–32 cm; pinnae 7–13 pairs, sterile pinnae 9–12(–16) x 1.5–2 cm, narrowly elliptic, bases obliquely cuneate or truncate, apices strongly serrulate, longacuminate; laminae dark green, with minute scales on veins and trichomidia between veins; veins free, simple or 1-forked; fertile pinnae similar in shape to those of the sterile fronds, but narrower, 4.5–6 x 0.5–0.7 cm; synangia 56–62 per pinna.

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Chinantla, between Lobani and Petlapa, Liebmann s.n. [Pl. Mex. 2184, Fl. Mex. 255, 656] (C!).

    Danaea muenchii Christ in Rosenstock, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni. Veg. 22: 23. 1925 [“munchii”]. Type. Mexico. Chiapas: San Pablo, Mu¨nch 159 (P!; isotypes DS!, US!).

    Danaea cuspidata is distinguished by its slender, strongly serrulate pinnae. It is closely allied with or perhaps identical to D. moritziana C. Presl of South America and possibly the West Indies; the latter is the older name.