Lycopodium myrsinites Lam.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Lycopodiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Lycopodium myrsinites Lam.

  • Description

    Species Description - Stems mostly 20-55 cm long, 1 mm diam. (without leaves), forked mostly 4-8 times; leaves dimorphic, forming distinct strobili; vegetative leaves spreading, mostly not imbricate, spirally arranged in several ranks with bases twisted giving branches a flattened appearance, leaves near base of stem 7-11 mm long, 2.5-3.5 mm wide, narrowly ovate to oblong-lanceolate, entire, apex acuminate, base rounded, abruptly narrowed to 0.75 mm wide at attachment, subsessile, midrib prominent below; sporophylls much smaller than other leaves, pseudodecussate, narrowly to broadly ovate, 2 mm long, 1.5-2.0 mm wide, in four ranks; sporangia evident.

  • Discussion

    Plananthus myrsinites (Lamarck) Palisot-Beauvois, Prodr. aethéogam. 111. 1805. Huperzia myrsinites (Lamarck) Trevisan, Atti Soc. Ital. Sci. Nat. 17: 249. 1874 [1875]. Urostachys myrsinites (Lamarck) Herter, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 19: 166. 1923. Type. “S. Domingue” [Hispaniola]. J. Martin s.n. (P-Lam.). Lycopodium skutchii Maxon, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 46: 159. 1933. Type. Guatemala. Chimaltenango: Chichavac, Skutch 243 (US!). Lycopodium myrsinites is conspicuous by its broad, short sterile leaves and much-reduced sporophylls. Most plants found in Oaxaca have been sterile.

  • Distribution

    Pendent epiphytes in middle elevation wet montane forests on Atlantic slope; Ixtlán; 1150-2000 m. Mexico (Oax, Chis); Guat to CR; Hisp; Guy, Ven, Col, Peru.

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