Thelypteris oaxacana A.R.Sm.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.

  • Family

    Thelypteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Thelypteris oaxacana A.R.Sm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizome erect; fronds ca. 60-95 cm long, 14-25 cm wide, with 6-10 pairs of gradually reduced basal pinnae, mucilaginous when young; stipe stramineous to tan, to 20 cm long, 5 mm diam.; rachis above with scattered hairs along the sulcus, glabrous below; pinnae 1.3-2.5 cm wide, broadest at their base, incised ca. 0.8 times their width, with prominent aerophores at their base; segments 3-5 mm wide, slightly oblique, not falcate, apex rounded or subacute; veins 5-12 pairs per segment, glabrous; costae above with scattered acicular hairs 0.5 mm long, below epilose and towards the base with a few linear-lanceolate stramineous appressed scales; leaf tissue glabrous on both sides; sori medial, round or slightly oblong; indusia prominent, persistent, glabrous, ca. 0.7 mm diam.; sporangia glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Ixtlán-Tuxtepec rd., Km 126-129, A Smith 459 (UC!). Thelypteris oaxacana differs from other Oaxacan species in the large, persistent indusia, and costae and leaf tissue lacking hairs and glands below. It is most closely related to T. pachyrhachis (Kunze ex Mettenius) Ching, a species of southern Central America, the Antilles, and South America.

  • Distribution

    Along streams in wet montane forest; Ixtlán; 1500-2000 m. Mexico (Oax, Chis); Salv, Nic, CR.

    Mexico North America| Costa Rica South America| Nicaragua Central America| El Salvador Central America|