Trichomanes hymenoides Hedw.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Hymenophyllaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Trichomanes hymenoides Hedw.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizome long-creeping, 0.1-0.3 mm diam.; rhizome hairs dark brown, 1.0 mm long; roots lacking; fronds 0.5-3.5 cm long, 0.3-1.5 cm wide, distant; stipe ca. 1/10-¼ the frond length, brown, with dense, dark brown hairs like those of the rhizome; blade broad, sinuses deep, segments overlapping, margin membranaceous, with forked hairs, otherwise glabrous; veins free, major veins appearing almost palmate, false veins sparse, not parallel to margin; sori 1-several near blade apex, nearly free from blade tissue; involucre tubiform, 1-1.5 mm long, 1.0 mm wide, mouth flaring, dark-margined, bilabiate.

  • Discussion

    Trichomanes muscoides Swartz, J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(2): 95. 1801, nom. superfl. illeg. Didymoglossum muscoides (Swartz) Desvaux, Mém. Soc. Linn. Paris 6: 330. 1827. Didymoglossum hymenoides (Hedwig) Copeland, Philipp. J. Sci. 67: 77. 1938. Type. Not found by W. Boer (1962), who designated Hedwig’s plate as lectotype; probably based on Jamaican specimen collected by Swartz (type in G?). Trichomanes apodum Hooker & Greville, Icon. fil. 1: t. 117. 1831. Type. Barbados. C. S. Parker s.n. (K!). Microgonium schaffneri van den Bosch ex Fée, Mém. foug. 9: 38. 1857, nom. nud., non Trichomanes schajfneri Schlechtendal, 1853. Specimen cited. Mexico. Veracruz: Huatusco, Schaffner 2 (P). Trichomanes hymenoides is very close to T. reptans (q. v.) and can be distinguished by its small size, the sessile 2-stellate marginal hairs, lack of stellate hairs in sinus bases, the pinnate main veins, which appear almost palmate, and the broad, oak-leaf-like fronds with overlapping segments. See T. bucinatum for distinguishing characters.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic in wet montane forests; Juquila, Tuxtepec; 250-1450 m. Mexico (Ver, Oax, Chis); Guat to Pan; WI, Trin; Ven & Col to Uru & Arg.

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