Terpsichore senilis (Fée) A.R.Sm.
-
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 short-creeping to suberect; rhizome scales castaneous, 0.3–1.5 mm, with numerous, pale marginal setae; fronds indeterminate, 10–25+ cm long; stipes brownish, dull, 0.5–2 cm long, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., with numerous hyaline to pale reddish setae 1–2 mm long; blades 8–45 x 1–1.5 cm, 1-pinnate, gradually reduced proximally, lacking black clavate fungi; pinnae 0.5–1 x 0.2–0.4 cm, adnate 1/3–2/3 their width, the bases abruptly rounded acroscopically, short-decurrent or not decurrent basiscopically, apices obtuse; costae and veins inconspicuous or hidden; hydathodes not producing lime-dots; indument of hyaline to pale reddish setae 1–2 mm long on rachises, costae, and laminar tissue, also of paired (or in clusters of 3) hairs ca. 1–2 mm, pinna margins with solitary and paired (occasionally in clusters of 3) setae; sori glabrous or setose from the receptacles; sporangia with numerous setae ca. 0.5 + mm long on capsules; spores ellipsoid, monolete.
-
Discussion
Polypodium senile Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 7: 60. 1857. Ctenopteris senilis (Fe´e) Copel., Philipp. J. Sci. 84: 398. 1955 [1956]. Grammitis senilis (Fe´e) C. V. Morton, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 38: 103. 1967. Type. Colombia. Norte de Santander: Schlim 364 (RB).
Polypodium subflabelliforme Rosenst., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 7: 306. 1909. Grammitis subflabelliformis (Rosenst.) C. V. Morton, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 38: 104. 1967. Type. Ecuador. Mt. Abitagua, Spruce 5271 (K; isotypes NY!, US).
Stolze (1981) and Lellinger (1989) treated this species as a synonym of T. cultrata, but T. senilis differs in a suite of characters that seem at least as significant as those that distinguish T. lanigera (Desv.) A. R. Sm. (recognized by both Tryon & Stolze, 1993, and Lellinger, 1989) from T. cultrata. Tryon and Stolze (1993) did recognize Grammitis subflabelliformis (Rosenst.) C. V. Morton as distinct; we treat this as a synonym of T. senilis. The differences between T. cultrata and T. senilis are especially evident in occasional mixed collections, e.g., Stolze 1513 (UC), Scamman & Holdridge 8097 (US), and Stork 1620 (UC, US), all from Costa Rica. In general, specimens of T. senilis have pinnae less than 1 x 0.4 cm and 1–2 times longer than wide (vs. pinnae 1–2 x 0.3–0.7 cm and 2–4 times longer than wide in T. cultrata), pinnae adnate 1/3–2/3 their width (vs. adnate more than 2/3 their width in T. cultrata), and surfaces of the blades and rachises abaxially and along pinna margins with setae generally solitary, almost never paired (vs. a mixture of solitary, paired, and sessilestellate hairs in T. cultrata).
-
Distribution
Laxly pendent epiphyte in evergreen cloud forests; 2750 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, CR, Pan; Col, Ven, Ec, Peru, Bol.
Bolivia South America| Peru South America| Venezuela South America| Panama Central America| Honduras Central America| Guatemala Central America| México Mexico North America|