Polypodium subpetiolatum Hook.

  • 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 subpetiolatum Hook.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes creeping to long-creeping, 3–5 mm diam., often slightly glaucous; rhizome scales ovate-lanceolate to ovate-deltate, long-attenuate, entire, glabrous or comose, overlapping-cordate, 6–7 mm long; fronds 30–75 cm long, distant; stipes 1/3–2/5 the frond length, glabrous, stramineous, rarely brown; blades oblong-deltate or lanceolate, 1-pinnate, pinnatifid at apices, 7– 23 cm wide; pinnae 16–28 pairs, linear-lanceolate, 9–18mmwide, bases rounded to truncate, adnate only in upper part of blade, apices acuminate; abaxial surfaces glabrous with hairs 0.5 mm scattered on costae, veins, and margins; adaxial surfaces with rare to scattered white hairs; margins finely serrulate to crenulate to subentire; veins free or with occasional anastomoses; sori round to slightly oblong; sporangia not obviously setose but each with one or more short stubby hairs 0.1 mm long.

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. [Hidalgo:] Regla, Hartweg s.n. [414] (K!; isotype P!).

    Polypodium biserratum M. Martens & Galeotti, Me´m. Foug. Mexique. 38. 1842. Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Llano Verde, Galeotti 6451 (BR!).

    Polypodium schaffneri Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 9:22. 1857. Type. Mexico. [Distrito Federal:] San Angel, Schaffner 310; Popocate´petl, Schaffner 273 (P?).

    Polypodium guilleminianum E. Fourn., Mexic. Pl. 1: 77, t. 2. 1872. Type. Mexico. San Rafael, Guillemin s.n. (P!, photo BM!).

    Polypodium hahnii E. Fourn., Mexic. Pl. 1: 79. 1872. Type. Mexico. [Veracruz:] Misantla, Hahn s.n. (P!).

    Polypodium firmulum Maxon, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 8: 274, pl. 61, f. 3a, 3b. 1903, hom. illeg., non Baker, 1893. Polypodium maxonii C. Chr., Index Filic. 543. 1906. Type. Mexico. San Luis Potosi´, Palmer 448 (US!; isotypes GH!, NY!).

    Polypodium adelphum Maxon, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 8: 275, t. 62. 1903. Type. Mexico. Chiapas: Ghiesbreght 244 (GH! p.p., photo NY!; isotypes BM, K, NY, YU p.p.!).

    Polypodium teresae Maxon, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 8: 274, t. 61, f. 2. 1903. Type. Mexico. [Nayarit:] Territorio de Tepic, Sierra Madre, near Santa Teresa, Rose 2205 (US! frag. NY!; isotypes GH!, NY!).

    The characters used in Oaxaca (Mickel & Beitel, 1988) and Chiapas (Smith, 1981) treatments to distinguish P. subpetiolatum from P. adelphum (glabrous rhizome scales, free veins, and densely hairy adaxial costae) are not consistent and are found in varying combinations throughout the range of P. subpetiolatum. Some specimens from Chiapas have more cuneate pinna bases, and some specimens (also from Chiapas) have subconform terminal pinnae rather than strictly pinnatifid apices. Even in the type collection of P. adelphum both pinnatifid apices and subconform terminal pinnae occur. This species varies in having pinnae subentire to coarsely toothed or crenate and subauriculate; some specimens have very narrow pinnae.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic in oak and pine-oak forests; 1700– 3100 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond.

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