Pecluma ptilodon (Kunze) M.G.Price

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Polypodiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pecluma ptilodon (Kunze) M.G.Price

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes short-creeping, 5-12 mm diam.; rhizome scales reddish brown with blackish tips, lustrous, 2-3 x 0.5 mm, narrowly deltate, comose, entire; fronds 30-105 cm long, clumped; stipes reddish brown to black, 1/15-1/7 the frond length, with scattered to dense acicular hairs 1 mm, ctenoid hairs conspicuous; blades 8-18 cm wide, narrowly deltate to ovate-deltate, gradually reduced to auricles proximally; rachises abaxially lacking scales, with moderately dense septate hairs to 1 mm, also with tiny appressed ctenoid hairs; pinnae 4-9 cm x 6-9 mm, obtuse to acute, straight to subfalcate, equilateral at bases or surcurrent, costae of proximal pinnae at right angles to rachises; veins free, 1-3(-4)-forked; indument adaxially of scattered septate hairs 0.1- 0.3 mm on costae, laminar surfaces glabrous, abaxially the costae sparsely to moderately hairy with septate hairs to 1 mm long, laminar surfaces between veins with scattered, appressed hairs 0.1 mm, also with short dense erect acicular hairs in an oblong patch around sori, margins with scattered hairs to ca. 0.5 mm; sori round or oblong, medial, with clavate, branched paraphyses 0.3 mm; sporangia usually lacking capsular hairs (Mexican specimens); spores reniform, 64 per sporangium; 2n =148 (SLP, Ver, Fla, Jam).

  • Discussion

    Polypodium consimile Mett. var. bourgeauanum E. Fourn., Mexic. Pl. 1: 76. 1872 [“bourgaeanum”]. Syntypes. Mexico. Veracruz: In valle Cordobensi, Bourgeau 1431 (P-photo XAL, isosyntypes K!, L-photo UC!, NY!; frag. US!); Bourgeau 1436 (P; isosyntypes K-photo XAL, US!); Colombia. “Guadalupa,” Lindig 45 (P; isosyntype US!).

    Polypodium pectinatum L. var. caespitosum Jenman, Bull. Bot. Dept. 4: 125. 1897. Polypodium ptilodon (Kunze) M. G. Price var. caespitosum (Jenman) A. M. Evans, Amer. Fern J. 58: 170. 1968. Pecluma ptilodon (Kunze) M. G. Price var. caespitosa (Jenman) Lellinger, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 98: 387. 1985. Type. Jamaica. Old England, Jenman s.n. (NY!).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Mich (Arse`ne 5253, MEXU, cited by Di´az-Barriga & Palacios-Rios, 1992, but not verified). Tab (reported by Magan˜a, 1992, as var. caespitosa, but not verified). Pecluma ptilodon is unique among Mexican species in its oblong patch of erect hairs around the sori. In Mexico, it is likely to be confused only with P. consimilis, which see for discussion. Other distinguishing characteristics are the gradually reduced proximal pinnae (to mere semicircular lobes), lack of scales and presence of ctenoid hairs on the rachises abaxially, and the broad blades and broad pinnae with 2–3-forked veins. Breedlove 20964 and 27886, from Chiapas, cited as this species by Smith (1981), are P. consimilis. Variety ptilodon, from Peru and Bolivia, differs by having slightly longer stipes, larger fronds, smaller spores, and 2n=74. Two other South American varieties recognized by Evans (1968) appear more distantly related and possibly not conspecific.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial, on fallen logs, or epipetric, slopes and steep ravines in seasonal evergreen forests, montane rain forests, pine-oak forests; 200-1500 m. USA (Fla), Mexico; Hond; Cuba, Jam, Hisp; Trin. Reported from Guatemala by Stolze (1981) and from Nicaragua by Gómez (1976), as Polypodium ptilodon var. caespitosum.

    México Mexico North America| Honduras Central America| Cuba South America| Jamaica South America| West Indies| Trinidad and Tobago South America|