Loxogramme mexicana (Fée) C.Chr.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Polypodiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Loxogramme mexicana (Fée) C.Chr.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes long-creeping, 0.5–1.4 mm diam., with heavy, straight brown hairs and black clathrate scales, the scales linearlanceolate, long-acuminate, 2–5(–8) x 1 mm; fronds mostly 10– 25 x 1–3.5 cm, distant, often 1.5–3 cm apart; stipes absent; blades fleshy, simple, narrowly oblanceolate, gradually tapered to frond base, apex long-acuminate, margins entire; veins obscure, midvein visible below as a lighter streak, above by a slight ridge; sori sunken in grooves, mostly 7–12 mm long, as 4–8 streaks in a row (one row on each side of midrib), positioned submedially between midrib and margins, more or less parallel to midrib but slightly oblique to it; spores bilateral.

  • Discussion

    Selliguea mexicana Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 7: 43, t. 10, f. 4. 1857 (nom. nud. in Me´m. Foug. 5: 177. 1852). Gymnogramma mexicana (Fe´e) Baker in Hooker & Baker, Syn. Fil. 387. 1868. Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Sierra San Pedro Nolasco, Talea, etc., Jungersen [Ju¨rgensen] 945 (P!, frag. NY!; isotypes BM!, K!). Grammitis salvinii Hook., Sec. Cent. Ferns, t. 71. 1860 [1861]. Gymnogramma salvinii (Hook.) Hook., Sp. Fil. 5: 157. 1864. Loxogramme salvinii (Hook.) Maxon, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 13: 17. 1909. Type. Guatemala. Verapaz, Salvin s.n. (K!).

    In Oaxaca, this species was found mixed with Scoliosorus ensiformis (Mickel 949a, NY), which it closely resembles in the blade shape and texture, clathrate scales, and oblique sori, but it is distinct in the long-creeping rhizomes and straighter, fewer, non-anastomosing sori. Under dry conditions, L. mexicana becomes flaccid and limp, but revives remarkably with moisture.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic or on logs or at base of trees, in wet montane forest of Atlantic slope, cloud forests, pine-oak forests, montane cloud forests; 800–2100 m. Mexico; Guat, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan.

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