Thelypteris meniscioides (Liebm.) C.F.Reed
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Authority
Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.
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Family
Thelypteridaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Rhizomes short-creeping; fronds monomorphic or nearly so; stipes 30–60 cm x 2–4 mm, glabrous; blades chartaceous to subcoriaceous, 25–35 cm long, nearly as broad; pinnae (2–)4–12 lateral pairs plus a conform terminal pinna, narrowed on both sides of the middle, 15–25 x (2–)3–5(–6) cm, the margins entire, crenate, or very shallowly lobed, long-acuminate at tips; veins ca. 8–10 pairs from costules, these regularly united and meniscioid; indument on both sides absent or the costae abaxially with a few minute furcate hairs (0.1 mm long) toward bases; sori in double rows between costules, exindusiate; sporangia glabrous, rarely minutely setulose, the hairs less than 0.1 mm long; 2n=72 (Oax, Chis).
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Discussion
Polypodium meniscioides Liebm., Mexic. Bregn. 211 (reprint 59). 1849. Dryopteris meniscioides (Liebm.) C. Chr., Index Filic. 277. 1905, hom. illeg., non (Willd.) Kuntze, 1891. Dryopteris liebmannii Maxon & C. V. Morton, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 65: 348. 1938. Lectotype (chosen by Christensen, 1913: 266). Mexico. Oaxaca: Teotalcingo, Liebmann s.n. [Pl. Mex. 2407, Fl. Mex. 171] (C!).
This species differs from T. poiteana, T. ghiesbreghtii, and T. hondurensis, the most similar Mexican species, in the nearly or quite glabrous blades abaxially. In addition, T. meniscioides differs from T. poiteana in the usually glabrous sporangia and lack of buds in axils of pinnae. From T. ghiesbreghtii it also differs in having scattered stellate or furcate hairs, especially along the rachises and at bases of costae. Mexican specimens are all referable to var. meniscioides; var. ternata A. R. Sm. is restricted to Guatemala.