Melpomene firma (J.Sm.) A.R.Sm. & R.C.Moran
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Authority
Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.
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Family
Polypodiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Rhizomes suberect, 2–4 mm diam.; rhizome scales reddish brown, 3–5 mm long, appressed, acuminate at tips; fronds clumped; stipes dark brown to blackish, mostly (2–)4–8 cm long, 1/5–1/3 the frond length, glabrescent abaxially, setose adaxially, the setae red-brown, 0.1–0.4 mm long, also with a few branched lax pale reddish hairs on both sides; blades mostly 10–20(–27) x 2–6 cm, elliptic to oblanceolate, often completely 1-pinnate proximally and even in the middle, proximal several pairs of pinnae gradually reduced, gradually to subabruptly tapering distally; rachises setose on both sides, the setae 0.3–1 mm long, hairs absent; pinnae ca. 30–35 pairs, linear, mostly 15–30 mm long, 6–12 times longer than broad, perpendicular to the rachis and often upcurved, slightly excised basiscopically and sursumcurrent acroscopically, obtuse to subacute at the tips; costae readily visible and black abaxially; indument abaxially of sparse to numerous setae 1 mm long on costae, with veins, laminae between veins, and pinna margins glabrous; sori to ca. 15 pairs per pinna, sporangia intermixed with setae in and around the sori.
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Discussion
Polypodium firmum Klotzsch, Linnaea 20: 378. 1847, hom. illeg., non Kaulf., 1827. Ctenopteris firma J. Sm., Hist. Fil. 184. 1875. Grammitis firma (J. Sm.) C. V. Morton, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 38: 110. 1967. Lectotype (inferentially chosen by Looser, Revista Univ. (Santiago) 36(1): 75. 1951). Guyana. Schomburgk 1170 (B, not seen; isolectotype K; frag. US!). Polypodium aromaticum Maxon, Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus. 27: 743. 1904. Ctenopteris aromatica (Maxon) Copel., Philipp. J. Sci. 84: 418. 1955 [1956]. Grammitis aromatica (Maxon) Proctor, Brit. Fern Gaz. 9: 218. 1965. Type. Jamaica. Blue Mt. Peak, Underwood 1449 (NY!; isotype US!).
This species is most similar to M. xiphopteroides, and small forms of M. firma can be confused with that species. Melpomene firma can usually be distinguished by the non-setose stipes abaxially abaxially and the broader, 1-pinnate blades with more widely separated proximal pinnae. Melpomene firma is one of the most strongly aromatic species in the genus. Proctor (1985) reported the aroma persisting in dried specimens nearly a hundred years old.
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Distribution
Epiphytic in cloud forests; 1700–2300 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, Salv, CR, Pan; Jam; Col, Ven, Guy, Ec, Peru, Bol.
Mexico North America| Bolivia South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Ecuador South America| Guyana South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| Jamaica South America| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| El Salvador Central America| Honduras Central America| Guatemala Central America|