Polypodium fraxinifolium Jacq.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Polypodiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Polypodium fraxinifolium Jacq.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes long-creeping, 5–6 mm diam.; rhizome scales brown-clathrate with pale margins, round to slightly ovate, entire, 1–2 mm long; fronds 45–85 cm long, 1–3.5 cm distant; stipes 2/5 the frond length, stramineous to orange, glabrous; blades 1- pinnate, lanceolate-deltate, 20–30 cm wide; pinnae 5–9 pairs, 12– 18 cm x 18–33 mm, lanceolate to elliptic, distal pinnae not at all or only slightly adnate, margins entire; abaxial and adaxial blade surfaces glabrous; venation meniscioid, with 3–5 rows of areoles between costae and margins; sori round, medial, in 3–5 rows between costae and margins; sporangia glabrous; 2n = 74 (CR).

  • Discussion

    Goniophlebium fraxinifolium (Jacq.) T. Moore, Index Fil. lxxiv. 1857. Type. Cultivated specimen, Hort. Scho¨nbrunn, from specimen said to have originated from Caracas (W; photo BM!).

    This species is close to P. triseriale except: distal pinnae not or only slightly adnate, pinnae elliptic with 3–5 rows of sori/ areoles between costae and pinna margins (vs. only 2 or occasionally 3), rhizome scales appressed, with rounded apices (vs. spreading, lanceolate, attenuate), and longer-creeping rhizomes, (2–)4–10 cm between stipe bases, rhizomes thinner, ca. 5–6 mm diam. (vs. 7–10 mm).

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial in Mexico or epiphytic in pine-oak forests; 1300 m. Mexico; Guat, Bel (Davidse & Holland 36729A, MO), Nic, CR, Pan; Col, Ven, Guy, Sur, Fr Gui, Ec, Peru, s Braz, Bol.

    Guatemala Central America| Belize Central America| Nicaragua Central America| Panama Central America| Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Bolivia South America|