Lycopodium reflexum 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 reflexum Lam.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants erect, tufted or shortly decumbent; stems erect, mostly 9-30 cm tall, 1-2 mm diam. (without leaves), stramineous to light brown, simple to three times forked, the isodichotomous divisions subparallel or weakly diverging; leaves widely spreading, spirally arranged in many ranks, strongly reflexed toward the base of plant (ascending only at stem tip), linear-lanceolate, mostly 5-7 mm long, 0.5-1.0 mm wide at base, margin minutely ciliate-denticulate; adaxial surface lustrous, midrib immersed, not evident; sporophylls similar to other leaves; sporangia evident.

  • Discussion

    Urostachys reflexus (Lamarck) Herter, Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 39: 249. 1922. Huperzia reflexa (Lamarck) Trevisan, Atti Soc. Ital. Sci. Nat. 17:248.1874 [1875]. Type. Martinique. Martin s.n. (P-Lam. 442). Lycopodium reflexum is common on moist banks in Oaxaca and distinct by its erect, dichotomously forking stems with spreading leaves and conspicuous sporangia. There are many splinter names for slight variations in Costa Rica and South America, but Oaxacan material is uniform and compares favorably with the West Indian material of the type variety. It is reported by A. R. Smith (1981) to be rarely epiphytic, but not otherwise reported as such for this abundant species; further observations are needed.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial on open banks in lower to upper middle elevation wet forests; Ixtlán, Mixe, Pochutla, Teotitlán, Tuxtepec, Villa Alta; 300-2200 m. Mexico (Jal, Mex, Gro, Hgo, Ver, Pue, Oax, Chis); Guat to Pan; WI, Trin; Ven & Col, to Bol, Parag & Braz.

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