Woodwardia spinulosa M.Martens & Galeotti
-
Authority
Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.
-
Family
Blechnaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Species Description - Rhizome suberect to erect; rhizome scales concolorous, castaneous, 15-30 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, lanceolate-attenuate, twisted, margin entire; fronds clumped; stipe stramineous, blackish at base, (14-)20-50(-100) cm long, ½ the frond length, with scales similar to rhizome scales, clustered at base; blade pinnate-pinnatifid, (18-)25-55(-100) cm long, apex pinnatifid, 4-5 pairs of free pinnae below pinnatifid apex, with rounded, short-decurrent bases, lower pinnae with cordate bases; rachis stramineous, with sparse papillae (0.1 mm), lacking proliferous bud; largest pinnae (11-)20-35 cm long, (3.5-)5-10 cm wide, largest pinnules 2-4.5 cm long, 1-.5 cm wide, sometimes crenately lobed on acroscopic side; costae, veins and leaf tissue with sparse to scattered, narrow, hairlike, 0.3-1 mm long, fibrillose scales, sometimes with clavate tips and sparse, broad, fibrillose scales, 1.5-3 mm long, 0.8-1.5 mm wide, especially along costae, often deciduous, glabrous adaxially, margin spinulose; veins ending in 0.3-0.5 mm long teeth; adaxial hydathodes prominent; sori only along the costular areoles, impressed, upper surface embossed; indusia 14 mm long, (0.5-)0.8-l mm wide, thick, vaulted, entire to suberose.
-
Discussion
Type. Mexico. Veracruz, Galeotti 6255 (BR, not found. The only Galeotti specimens of this species are five sheets of 6573 from Cerro San Martín, three from Veracruz, and one from Oaxaca, supposedly at 2000' [610 m] although we have not seen it below 6000' [1830 m]. The BR specimen of Galeotti 6255 is Cochlidium serrulatum, Veracruz, 8000' [2440 m]. Most likely the published collection number was in error and 6573 should be the type). Woodwardia spinulosa is distinguished from W. fimbriata Rees (W. chamissoi Brackenridge) of the Pacific Coast from British Columbia south to Mexico in the extreme northern part of Baja California by having fibrillose scales on the abaxial costae, veins and lamina, lacking numerous, large, pale yellow resin glands on the lower surface, and upper pinnae with short-decurrent pinna bases (as opposed to cordate in W. fimbriata). Woodwardia x semicordata Mickel & Beitel, the abortive-spored hybrid of W. martinezii (q.v.) and W. spinulosa, appears to be a good intermediate in terms of range (Ver, Pue, Oax, Chis), elevation (1850-2350 m), separate sori along the costae in the distal 1/3-½ of the pinnae, blade and pinna size, rhizome scale size (10-20 mm long), free pinna mostly with cordate base, indusial size (1-9 mm long), and range in indusia from thick to thin and impressed to superficial.
-
Distribution
Terrestrial, usually on steep banks or ravines near streams in montane rain forests; Centro, Ixtlán, Miahuatlán, Mixe, Pochutla, Teotitlán, Tlaxiaco; 1850-2900 m. Mexico (Son, Sin, Dgo, Nay, Jal, Mich, Gro, Gto, Mex, DF, Mor, Hgo, Tam, Ver, Pue, Oax, Chis); Guat to Nic.
Mexico North America| Nicaragua Central America| Guatemala Central America|