Notholaena candida Hook.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Notholaena candida Hook.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes compact, horizontal, ca. 2 mm diam.; rhizome scales lanceolate, 2 mm long, bicolorous, with castaneous to black central streak and pale margins, entire to suberose; fronds 10–34 cm long; stipes 1/2–2/3 the frond length, atropurpureous to black, terete, with scattered ovate-lanceolate scales at bases or to basal pinnae, also with sparse white farina; blades ovate-pentagonal to deltate-pentagonal, 4–7(–10) cm wide, pinnate-pinnatifid except for the basal pair of pinnae which are 2-pinnate-pinnatifid and exaggerated basiscopically (basal pinnule of suprabasal pinnae separated from next pinnule on same pinna by dark pinna rachis), the basiscopic pinnule on basal pinna pair gradually decreasing distally; pinnae 4–8 pinnatifid pairs above basal pinnae; adaxial surfaces glabrous or with a few scattered farina glands; abaxial surfaces white-farinose, rarely pale yellow; blade margins slightly curved; sporangia 64-spored; spores tan or black; 2n =60 (Mor, Oax, Pue).

  • Discussion

    Cheilanthes candida M. Martens & Galeotti, Me´m. Foug. Mexique 73, pl. 20, f. 1b. 1842. Aleuritopteris candida (M. Martens & Galeotti) Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 5: 154. 1852. Chrysochosma candida (M. Martens & Galeotti) Ku¨mmerle, Magyar Bot. Lapok 13: 40, 42. 1914. Type. Mexico. Jalisco: N of Guadalajara, Galeotti 6442 (BR!, photo BM!; isotype BR!).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Ags (De la Cerda & Garci´a 276, HUAA, cited by Siqueiros-Delgado & Gonza´lez-Adame, 2004 [as Cheilanthes candida], but not verified). BCS (reported by Wiggins, 1980, but not verified). Notholaena candida closely resembles Cheilanthes farinosa but lacks a false indusium. Farina in N. candida is usually white but occasionally pale yellow. There is a question of the distinctness of Notholaena copelandii, which see for discussion.

  • Distribution

    Dry rock scrubby hillsides; 450–1700 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, Salv, Nic.

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