Pteris quadriaurita Retz.
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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
Pteridaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Rhizome scales 3-4 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, tricolorous, central portion lustrous, base golden brown, tip dark brown, outer portion brown, erose; fronds 50-200 cm long; stipe stramineous, glabrous; blade pinnate-pinnatifid to bipinnate, sinuses symmetrical, often with one to several marginal teeth, either on upper or lower surface or both, rarely with scaly buds on rachis (Pringle 3971 from SLP); ultimate segments entire, obtuse, upper surface glabrous, lower surface with short, 0.1 mm long hairs; rachis awns reduced to 1-2 papillae, 0.1 mm long, pinna awns 0.5-5.0 mm long; veins free, running to margin; in-dusium 0.3 mm wide, entire; spores dark brown, of varying sizes.
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Discussion
Type. Ceylon. König s.n. (LD). Pteris nemoralis Willdenow var. major Martens & Galeotti, Mém. foug. Mexique 53. 1842. Type. Mexico. [Veracruz:] Zacuapán, Galeotti 6291 (BR!—6 sheets). This is the most common species with pinnate-pinnatifid blade, exaggerated basiscopic pinnules, and free veins. It resembles Pteris biaurita and P. pungens, which see for further discussion. All the specimens from Oaxaca have one to a few marginal teeth (with no veins except for the marginal vein) at the very base of most sinuses, on both the upper and lower leaf surface. The spores of all the specimens also exhibit heterogeneity, with some spores two to three times larger than others.
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Distribution
Wet lower montane forests; Choapan, Cuicatlán, Ixtlán, Juquila, Mixe, Putla, Teotitlán, Tuxtepec, Villa Alta; 450-1250 m. Mexico (Jal, Gro, Mex, SLP, Ver, Oax, Chis); Guat to Pan; WI, Trin; Col & Ven to n Arg; Africa, Asia.
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