Pleopeltis crassinervata (Fée) T.Moore
-
Authority
Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.
-
Family
Polypodiaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Species Description - Rhizomes creeping, 1–1.5 mm diam.; rhizome scales dimorphic, 1–1.5 mm long along rhizomes, ovate-lanceolate, black, margins generally broad, pale, denticulate, rarely comose, at stipe bases 1.5–2 mm long, lanceolate, generally concolorous with only dark center spot, denticulate; fronds monomorphic; stipes 1/10–1/3 the frond length, terete; blades simple, linear-elliptic, (8–)10–30 x 0.7–1(–2) cm, thin; midribs abaxially blackish only at blade bases or nearly throughout the blade length; veins faintly to readily evident at blade bases near the midribs, dark; abaxial blade scales sparse, round, 0.5 mm diam., brown-centered, margins pale brown to whitish, fimbriate; sori oblong, soral scales peltate, 0.5– 0.8 mm wide, centers dark brown-black, margins pale brown, fimbriate; 2n=70 (Oax, SLP).
-
Discussion
Drynaria crassinervata Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 8: 97. 1857. Polypodium crassinervatum (Fe´e) Kiaersk., Beretn. Bot. Haves Virks. 1871-73: 49. 1874. Polypodium lanceolatum L. var. crassinervatum (Fe´e) Weath., Contr. Gray Herb. 65: 8. 1922. Syntypes. Mexico. Veracruz: “Valle´e d’Orizaba,” Schaffner 173, 489; Co´rdoba, Schaffner 174a (not found in P; Schaffner 489, 174a in RB).
Citation of this species from the states of Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, Me´xico, and Morelos by Mickel and Beitel (1988) is based on misidentifications. Pleopeltis crassinervata is aptly named for its distinctive, conspicuous, dark veins near the rachises (midribs) in the proximal half of the blades. Specimens from Tamaulipas and some from San Luis Potosi´ lack the characteristic darkened veins at the base of the blades, and so could be mistaken for P. mexicana, but the rhizome scales are smaller and less comose, and the fertile and sterile blades are similar in size and shape (not dimorphic). The blade margins of P. crassinervata tend to be more revolute than in either P. mexicana or P. polylepis. Pleopeltis x melanoneuron Mickel & Beitel (Fig. 228L; Amer. Fern J. 77: 25. 1987) was described on the basis of a specimen from Mexico (Veracruz: Zacuapan, Purpus 5798, US, not found; isotype UC!). The type was earlier cited as a paratype of Polypodium sordidulum by Maxon andWeatherby, but we agree with Mickel and Beitel (1987) that this is not the same hybrid as Pleopeltis x sordidula. The parentage suggested by Mickel and Beitel (P. crassinervata x fallax) seems not quite so obvious. The blackened lateral veins at the base of the blades are much darker than one finds in either of their suspected parents and suggests that P. angusta might possibly be involved in the parentage. Two additional collections of this hybrid have been made, the first also from Veracruz (Foster 14, US), and the second, lacking sori, from Hidalgo (30 km NNE of Tulancingo on Mex. 130, ca. 2000 m, Marcks & Marcks 718, WIS).
-
Distribution
Epiphytic in wet montane forests; (450–)700– 1900 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, Nic, CR.
Mexico North America| Costa Rica South America| Nicaragua Central America| Honduras Central America| Guatemala Central America|