Thelypteris oaxacana A.R.Sm.

  • 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 oaxacana A.R.Sm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes erect; fronds ca. 60–95 cm long, mucilaginous when young; stipes stramineous to tan, 8–20 cm x 3–5 mm; blades 50– 100 x 14–25 cm, with 6–10 pairs of gradually reduced proximal pinnae, lacking proliferous buds; rachises adaxially with scattered hairs along the sulcus, glabrous abaxially; pinnae 7–13 x 1.3–2.5(– 3) cm, broadest at their bases, incised ca. 0.8 to the costae; aerophores prominent, tuberculate or peg-like at pinna bases; segments 3–5 mm wide, slightly oblique, not falcate, apices rounded or subacute; veins 5–12 pairs per segment, glabrous; indument abaxially generally absent, but with a few stramineous linearlanceolate appressed scales towards bases of costae, adaxially with scattered acicular hairs 0.5 mm long along costae, veins and tissue between veins glabrous on both sides of blades; sori medial, round or slightly oblong, with prominent, persistent, glabrous indusia ca. 0.7 mm diam.; sporangia glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Ixtla´n-Tuxtepec road, Km 126-129, Smith 459 (UC!).

    Thelypteris oaxacana differs from Mexican congeners in the costae and tissue between veins lacking hairs and glands abaxially and in having large, persistent indusia. It is very closely related to T. pachyrhachis (Kunze ex Mett.) Ching, a variable species of southern Central America, the Antilles, and South America.

  • Distribution

    Along streams in wet montane forests; 1500– 2250 m. Mexico; Salv, CR, Pan. Gómez (1976) also reported this species from Nicaragua, but no specimens have been seen.

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