Elaphoglossum huacsaro (Ruiz) C.Chr.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Dryopteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Elaphoglossum huacsaro (Ruiz) C.Chr.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes compact, often 5–10 cm long, 3–5 mm diam., apices ascending; rhizome scales lanceolate, concolorous, castaneous toblack, 1–3 mm long, lustrous, entire, each often with a tortuous hair-like tip; fronds 17–34 cm long, approximate; phyllopodia present but obscured by scales; stipes 1/4–1/3 of sterile frond length, orange to brown; stipe scales ca. 1 mm long, mostly appressed, some spreading, lanceolate, dark to pale, the larger ones often dark-tipped; sterile blades (6–)15–24 x 0.8–1.6 cm, linear, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, bases narrowly cuneate, apices obtuse to rounded; veins obscure, ca. 1 mm apart, at 60–75º angle to costa; hydathodes absent; blade scales reduced to resinous dots on both surfaces, costal scales ca. 1 mm long, lanceolate, spreading, and scales along adaxial lamina margins 0.2–0.6 mm long, appressed, ovate, entire; fertile fronds far exceeding the sterile in length, stipes 2/3 of frond length, nearly as long as the entire sterile leaf, blades narrow, (6–)8–11 mm wide, intersporangial scales absent.

    Distribution and Ecology - Terrestrial or epipetric on steep roadbanks in pineoak and wet forests. 1700–2200 m. Mexico; Guat, CR; Jam, Hisp; Col, Ven, Ec, Peru, Bol.

  • Discussion

    Acrostichum huacsaro Ruiz, Mem. Calaguala 57. 1805. Type. Peru. “Habitat in Andinum montibus ad Sanatolmas et Tarmac provinciae,” Ruiz 54 (B!; isotype BR, photos F, US).

    Elaphoglossum huacsaro is distinct by the linear fronds with resinous dots abaxially and small marginal scales adaxially, obtuse blade apices, ascending rhizomes, and terrestrial habitat.

  • Distribution

    Mexico North America|