Thelypteris deflexa (C.Presl) R.M.Tryon

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Thelypteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Thelypteris deflexa (C.Presl) R.M.Tryon

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes erect or suberect, caudices ca. 1–1.5 cm diam.; fronds (15–)30–60(–120) cm long; stipes stramineous with darkened bases, 5–12 cm x 1–2 mm, glabrous except for sparse scales at bases, scales tan, ovate, ca. 3 mm long, glabrous; blades thin,herbaceous, generally 40–80 x 5–16 cm, with 2–4(–6) pairs of reduced proximal pinnae; pinnae opposite or subopposite, mostly 2–7(–9) x 0.7–1.4(–1.8) cm, widest at bases, incised to within 1(–1.5) mm of costae; aerophores absent; segments slightly oblique, rounded at apices, ca. 2–4 mm wide; veins 4–6(–8) pairs per segment; indument abaxially absent on rachises, costae, veins, and tissue between veins or costae sparsely hairy, hairs 0.2–0.4 mm long, adaxially the blades glabrous except along rachial and costal grooves; sori medial, exindusiate; sporangia glabrous; 2n =116 (Oax).

  • Discussion

    Nephrodium deflexum C. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1(1): 36, t. 5, f. 2. 1825. Dryopteris lindigii C. Chr., Index Filic. 275. 1905, non D. deflexa (Kaulf.) C. Chr. Thelypteris lindigii (C. Chr.) Alston, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 48: 233. 1958. Amauropelta deflexa (C. Presl) A° . Lo¨ve & D. Lo¨ve, Taxon 26: 325. 1977. Type. Peru. Haenke s.n. (PR?). Complete synonymy given in Smith (1983).

    Thelypteris deflexa differs from other members of subg. Amauropelta in Mexico by the combination of exindusiate sori, nearly or quite glabrous rachises and costae abaxially, and relatively few pairs of reduced proximal pinnae. Breedlove 31739 (DS), from Chiapas, is atypical in bearing sessile reddish glands on the blades and receptacles, fibrillose scales on the costae and costules abaxially, and small aerophores at the pinna bases.

  • Distribution

    In wet oak and pine-oak woods and along trails, roadside embankments; 1300–2700 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, Salv, CR, Pan; Col, Ven, Ec, Peru, Bol. Gómez P. (1976) also reported the species from Nicaragua, but no specimens have been seen.

    Mexico North America| Nicaragua Central America| Bolivia South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| El Salvador Central America| Honduras Central America| Guatemala Central America|