Trichomanes rigidum Sw.

  • 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 rigidum Sw.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes stout, 5–7 mm diam., erect or ascending, to 4 cm long; rhizome hairs dark brown, stiff, lustrous, 1–1.5 mm long; roots present; fronds 20–35 cm long, clumped; stipes 1/2 the frond length, stout, 0.8–1 mm diam., brown, non-alate, glabrous except with hairs at base like rhizome hairs; blades 3–4-pinnate, 10–15 cm wide, subdeltate or broadly ovate, dark green; rachises glabrous except for stubby blackish hairs; pinnae 12–20 pairs, petiolulate, ascending or spreading, with occasional stubby blackish hairs, ultimate segments linear, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, margins entire; veins free, false veins absent; involucres stalked with narrow lateral wings, 1.0–1.2 x 0.3–0.5 mm, mouths not flared, entire, slightly bilabiate, concolorous; 2n =66 (Jam).

  • Discussion

    Selenodesmium rigidum (Sw.) Copel., Philipp. J. Sci. 67: 81. 1938. Type. Jamaica. Swartz s.n. (S?)

    One of the few terrestrial species of Mexican Trichomanes, T. rigidum is distinct by its erect rhizomes, coarse, non-alate stipes, and finely dissected blades.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial in wet montane forests of Atlantic slope; 300–1650 m. Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, Nic, CR, Pan; Gr & L Ant; Col, Ven, Trin, Guy, Sur, Fr Gui, Ec, Peru, s Braz, Bol; Old World tropics, though paleotropical material may represent a distinct taxon.

    Bolivia South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| French Guiana South America| Suriname South America| Guyana South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Venezuela South America| West Indies| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| Nicaragua Central America| Honduras Central America| Belize Central America| Guatemala Central America| México Mexico North America|