Microgramma piloselloides (L.) Copel.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Polypodiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Microgramma piloselloides (L.) Copel.

  • Description

    Species Description - Differs from M. reptans by: rhizome scales tightly appressed and more broadly lanceolate and without long-attenuate tips; sterile blades more obviously scaly; fronds subdimorphic (vs. strongly dimorphic in M. reptans); fertile blades elliptic, mostly 5–10 mm wide and with sori not overlapping the blade margins; 2n =148 (Jam, PR).

  • Discussion

    Polypodium piloselloides L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1083. 1753. Type. “Habitat in America meridionali,” LINN 1251.3 is this species, but, according to Jackson (1912) was added after 1755; Plumier and Petiver illustrations also cited.

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Tab (reported by Magan˜a, 1992, based on a misidentification of M. reptans). Tryon and Tryon (1982: 717) commented that M. reptans and several other scaly-bladed species were “poorly distinguished” from M. piloselloides. More recently, R. Tryon and Stolze (1993) separated these two and distinguished them by the more tightly appressed rhizome scales of M. piloselloides (vs. loosely appressed and with tips widely spreading in M. reptans) and the whitish (vs. orangish to castaneous in M. reptans) scales on the adaxial laminar surfaces. However, they also included M. acatallela Alston in synonymy under M. piloselloides, and we believe the former is adequately distinct from both M. piloselloides and M. reptans. Moreover, they accorded a much broader range to M. piloselloides than we give it.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic in montane rain forests; 1400 m. Mexico; Guat; Gr & L Ant; Ven. Reported from Nicaragua and Costa Rica by Moran (in Davidse et al.,1995), but identity of specimens should be verified. Also reported from Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil by R. Tryon and Stolze (1993) and by Moran (in Davidse et al., 1995), but because of confusion with M. reptans and M. acatallela Alston, this added range is suspect.

    Mexico North America| Brazil South America| Bolivia South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Ecuador South America| French Guiana South America| Guyana South America| Colombia South America|