Thelypteris paucipinnata (Donn.Sm.) C.F.Reed

  • 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 paucipinnata (Donn.Sm.) C.F.Reed

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes creeping to suberect; fronds monomorphic or nearly so; stipes darkened, ca. 35–65 cm x 3–6 mm, glabrous except for a few deciduous basal scales; blades subcoriaceous, pustulate abaxially, 45–50(–75) x ca. 20–30 cm, usually with buds in axils of distal pinnae; pinnae (3–)5–8(–13) lateral pairs and a conform terminal one, 15–30 x ca. 3(–5) cm, obliquely pinnatifid and incised ca. 1/3 the way to the costae, tapering gradually to narrow entire long-acuminate apices, at bases narrowly cuneate, stalked to 8 mm; segments subfalcate; veins ca. 10–14 pairs per segment, 4–6 proximal pairs from adjacent segments connivent at sinuses, or the lowest pairs united below sinuses; indument on both sides of blades absent, abaxial surfaces verrucose; sori submarginal with whitish, reniform, persistent, glabrous indusia; sporangia glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Nephrodium fendleri (D. C. Eaton) Hook. var. paucipinnatum Donn. Sm., Bot. Gaz.12: 134. 1887. Dryopteris paucipinnata (Donn. Sm.) Maxon, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 13: 19. 1909. Lectotype (chosen by Maxon, op. cit.: 20). Guatemala. Alta Verapaz: Petet, Tu¨rckheim s.n. [Donn. Sm. 767] (US!; isolectotypes UC!, US!).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Tab (reported by Magan˜a, 1992, not verified).

    This species is easily distinguished from other Goniopteris, except T. schaffneri, by the combination of a conform terminal pinna on each blade, submarginal sori, and persistent indusia. From T. schaffneri it differs by the presence of a bud in the axil of a distal pinna, thicker blade texture, nearly glabrous costae abaxially, and glabrous indusia.

  • Distribution

    Shaded limestone cliffs, streambanks and ravines in lowland and montane rain forests; 300–1300(–1600) m. Mexico; Guat, Bel.

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