Hymenophyllum fucoides (Sw.) Sw.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Hymenophyllaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hymenophyllum fucoides (Sw.) Sw.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes creeping, 0.3–0.5 mm diam.; rhizome hairs reddish, 0.8–1 mm long; fronds 8–20 x1.5–5 cm, somewhat distant; stipes usually more than 2 cm long, 0.4–0.7 mm diam., proximal 1/3 of stipes not alate, hairs sparse, simple; blades tripinnatifid, ovate to linear-lanceolate, reduced slightly towards base, glabrous; rachises narrowly alate, with reddish black hairs 0.8–1 mm on abaxial surfaces; pinnae adnate; segments 1–2 mm wide, glabrous, apices obtuse; margins plane, coarsely serrate, teeth 0.1–0.3 mm long; involucres not immersed, 2.5–3 x 1.5–2 mm, constricted at bases, margins entire to serrulate, receptacles slightly to longexserted; 2n=112 (Jam).

  • Discussion

    Trichomanes fucoides Sw., Prodr. 136. 1788. Meringium fucoides (Sw.) Copel., Philipp. J. Sci. 67: 45. 1938. Type. Jamaica. Swartz s.n. (S; photo UC).

    Among the taxa with toothed margins, H. tunbrigense differs by being much smaller in size and segment width, with involucres often oriented at right angles to the plane of the blades, indusial margins entire to scarcely serrate, and plants often terrestrial. Hymenophyllum fucoides is part of a complex including H. ectocarpon (q.v.), the latter differing from H. fucoides in having deeply laciniate involucral margins.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic in dense wet forests; 1850–2700 m. Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan; Gr & L Ant; Col, Ven, Trin, Guy, Sur, Ec, Peru, s Braz, Bol.

    Mexico North America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Ecuador South America| Suriname South America| Guyana South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| West Indies| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| Nicaragua Central America| El Salvador Central America| Honduras Central America| Belize Central America| Guatemala Central America|