Thelypteris falcata (Liebm.) 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 falcata (Liebm.) R.M.Tryon

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes short-creeping; fronds mostly 85–125(–200) cm long; blades 1-pinnate, each with a ± conform terminal pinna, lacking buds in axils of pinnae; pinnae 8–12(–20) pairs,±equal in size, the proximal ones long-stalked (to 1–3 cm), often curved, 15–32(–40) x (1.8–)2–4(–5) cm, widest in the middle, tapering on both sides to acuminate apices and cuneate bases, margins entire to undulate; lateral veins of fertile pinnae ca. 8–12 per 3 cm, the veins meniscioid, forming usually 8–12(–17) series of areoles about as long as broad between costae and pinna margins, the secondary veins ± straight and uniting at an obtuse angle, an excurrent vein often dividing areole into two subequal rhomboid halves; indument on both sides of sparse hairs 0.2–0.3 mm long on costae, or costae glabrescent, veins and tissue between veins glabrous or glabrescent on both sides; sori arcuate, in a single row between costules at confluence of secondary veins; sporangia glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Meniscium falcatum Liebm., Mexic. Bregn. 183 (reprint 31). 1849. Dryopteris falcata (Liebm.) C. Chr., Kongel. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Skr., Naturvidensk. Math. Afd., ser. 7, 10: 270. 1913. Lectotype (chosen by Smith, 1981: 234). Mexico. Oaxaca: Dto. Chinantla, Liebmann s.n. [Pl. Mex. 2756, Fl. Mex. 680] (C!; isolectotypes C!, K!, US!).

    Meniscium juergensenii Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 5: 223. 1852 [“jungersenii”]. Dryopteris juergensenii (Fe´e) Maxon & C. V. Morton, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 65: 360. 1938. Type. Mexico. Ju¨rgensen 917 (not found at P). Complete synonymy given in Smith (1983).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Chis (Marti´nez S. 7675, cited by Riba et al. (Amer. Fern J. 77: 70. 1987) as this species, is T. reticulata) Pue (reported by Smith in Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but not verified). QR (Torres P. et al. 21, CIQRO, cited by Palacios-Rios, ms., but not verified). Thelypteris falcata differs from T. serrata by the entire or slightly undulate pinna margins, long-cuneate pinna bases, terminal pinnae nearly as long as the medial ones, and glabrous or glabrescent costae abaxially. From T. reticulata it differs in the areoles being about as broad as long, straight secondary veins, and long-cuneate pinna bases. Occasional specimens have undulate-crenate margins, e.g., Vera Santos 3394 and Marti´nez C. 544.

  • Distribution

    Along trails and in partially cut-over, shaded woods; 50–750 m. Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, Nic, CR, Pan; Cuba; Col, Ec, Peru, Bol.

    Mexico North America| Bolivia South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Ecuador South America| Colombia South America| Cuba South America| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| Nicaragua Central America| Honduras Central America| Belize Central America| Guatemala Central America|