Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis (Willd.) A.Gray
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Authority
Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.
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Family
Osmundaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Variety Description - Rhizome massive, compact, horizontal, apex with long hairs; fronds to 1.6 m tall, hemidi-morphic, the fertile part the terminal ¼ of the frond; stipe 1/3 the frond length, glabrous, stramineous to reddish-brown, darker at base; blade bipinnate, to 35 cm wide, elliptic, broadly lanceolate, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, glabrous at maturity; pinnules narrowly elliptic, apex obtuse to acute, base rounded to subcordate, very shortly petiolulate (less than 1 mm) to sessile at frond tip, distant, entire to subcrenulate, glabrous at maturity; veins twice-forked; fertile pinnae bipinnate.
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Discussion
Osmunda spectabilis Willdenow, Sp. pl. 5: 98. 1810. Type. United States. Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg s.n. (B-Willd. 19504!). Osmunda mexicana Fée, Mém. foug. 9: 43. 1857. Type. Mexico. Oaxaca, Galeotti 6388 (P?; isotypes BR! — 2 sheets). Osmunda palmeri A. Bobrov, Novit. Syst. PI. Vase. 1968: 8. 1968. Type. Mexico. Jalisco: Rio Blanco, Palmer 660 (LE!; isotypes GH!, K!, UC, US!). This variety seems to be the one that occurs throughout the New World. It is more open of frond and fertile panicle, less stout of stipe and rachis, and less coriaceous than var. regalis. Osmunda mexicana is accepted by Bobrov (1968), but there seem to be no consistent differences from the rest of the American material. The New World material looks distinct enough to be treated as a distinct species from the Old World (type) material, but more study of both dried and living material is needed to properly delimit these taxa.
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Distribution
Swampy areas in the open or light woods; Ixtlán, Villa Alta; 1450-2450 m.
Mexico North America|