Trichomanes capillaceum L.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Hymenophyllaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Trichomanes capillaceum L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes very fine, 0.1–0.3 mm diam., long-creeping, filamentous; rhizome hairs sparse to abundant, brown, 0.3mmlong; roots present; fronds 5–10(–15) cm long, distant, glabrous; stipes ca. 1/4 the frond length, 0.1–0.5 mm diam., glabrous, non-alate, green to stramineous (darker at base); blades lanceolate, ovate to oblanceolate, light yellow-green, membranaceous, 3–4-pinnate, 1–5 cm wide, proximal pinna pairs slightly reduced; rachises nonalate; pinnae non-alate in proximal third, ultimate segments filiform, 0.1–0.4 mm wide, emarginate, margins entire, plane; veins free, false veins absent; sori often 1(–4) per pinna, terminating proximal veinlets; involucres stalked and free from the tissue, 0.3–0.5 mm wide at middle, 1.5 mm long, mouth flared, 0.8–1 mm wide, entire; 2n =72 (CR, Jam).

  • Discussion

    Vandenboschia capillacea (L.) Copel., Philipp. J. Sci. 67: 53. 1938. Lectotype (chosen by Proctor, 1985: 109.). Plumier, Traite´ Foug. Ame´r., pl. 99D, 1705, based on a plant collected in Haiti.

    Trichomanes tenellum Hedw., Fil. Gen. Sp., ad t. 6, text. 1799. Trichomanes trichoideum Sw., J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(2): 98. 1801, nom. illeg. (see Morton 1973, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 38: 274). Trichomanes trichodes Sw., Fl. Ind. Occid. 3: 1741. 1806 (renaming of T. trichoideum Sw.). Type. Hedwig’s figure. Trichomanes schiedeanum Mu¨ll. Berol., Bot. Zeit. (Berlin) 12: 716. 1854. Type. Mexico, Schiede s.n. (B?).

    Trichomanes hypnoides Christ, Bull. Herb. Boissier, se´r. 2, 5: 725. 1905. Type. Mexico. Chiapas: Zontehuitz, Mu¨nch 108 (P?, not found; isotypes DS!, US!).

    The very finely dissected blades, filiform segments, and nonalate stipes distinguish T. capillaceum. Specimens from Oaxaca and farther north in Mexico are typical of the species, whereas in Chiapas intermediates between T. capillaceum and T. angustatum were reported by Smith (1981). Trichomanes angustatum has broader ultimate segments 0.5–0.7 mm wide and costae alate to the main rachis.

  • Distribution

    On tree fern trunks or rarely on wet rocks by streams, wet montane forests at middle elevations; 900–2600 m. Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan; Gr Ant; Col, Ven, Ec, Peru.

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