Pellaea atropurpurea (L.) Link

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pellaea atropurpurea (L.) Link

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes short, compact, to 8 mm diam.; rhizome scales 5–6 x 0.3 mm, linear, dark orange, concolorous, dull, subentire with occasional teeth, tortuous; fronds to 50 cm long, subdimorphic; stipes 1/4–1/2 the frond length, terete, atropurpureous, pubescent with scattered white hairs of two lengths,1–2 mm long and 0.1 mm long; blades elongate-deltate, to 25 x 18 cm, 2-pinnate or rarely 1-pinnate, gray-green; pinnae petiolate to 15 mm, articulate, pinnule stalks dark, stopping at bases of pinnules, apices acute to rounded, distal pinnae entire, proximal ones pinnate, slightly pubescent along abaxial costae with 1–2 mm long hairs, 1 to several pairs of pinnules, ultimate segments linear, entire, subcoriaceous, ultimate pinnules on proximal pinnae 30–40 x 4 mm; fertile margins recurved, thin at edges, indusia 0.1 mm with entire margins, sori elongate about 2 mm along ends; spores tan; n =2n=87 (Canada, USA, NL).

  • Discussion

    Pteris atropurpurea L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1076. 1753. Allosorus atropurpureus (L.) Kunze ex C. Presl, Suppl. Tent. Pterid. 153. 1836. Platyloma atropurpurea (L.) J. Sm., J. Bot. (Hooker) 4: 160. 1841. Notholaena atropurpurea (L.) Keyserl., Polyp. Herb. Bunge. 30. 1873. Type. U.S.A. Virginia: Kalm s.n. (LINN 1246.18). [A. Tryon (1957) cited Rappahanock River, Clayton 682 (BM) as holotype]. For additional synonymy, see A. Tryon (1957).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Ags (Gonza´lez- Adame 77, HUAA, cited by Siqueiros-Delgado & Gonza´lez-Adame, 2004, but not verified). Pellaea atropurpurea is distinct by its dark axes, pinnate pinnae, and concolorous rhizome scales. There is considerable variation within Pellaea atropurpurea, and perhaps some of the atypical specimens reflect hybridization with P. notabilis. Windham (pers. comm.) has suggested that Pellaea atropurpurea has crossed with P. notabilis, the hybrid appearing much like the former species, but distinct in having the rachises ciliate abaxially (Fig. 218H), whereas P. atropurpurea has the rachises glabrous abaxially (though ciliate adaxially) (Fig. 218C). Gastony andWindham (1989) reported a tetraploid apogamous plant, 2n=116, that is a probable hybrid between triploid P. atropurpurea and diploid P. notabilis

  • Distribution

    Limestone cliffs; 1500-2500 m. Canada, USA; Mexico; Guat.

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Canada North America| United States of America North America|