Woodsia plummerae Lemmon

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Woodsiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Woodsia plummerae Lemmon

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes horizontal to ascending, compact, 2–3 mm diam.; rhizome scales bicolorous orange-tan with black central stripe, linear-lanceolate, entire; fronds 10–25(–35) cm, clumped; stipes 1/5–2/5 the frond length, stramineous, dark at bases, extremely glandular throughout; blades pinnate-pinnatifid to bipinnate, 1.5–6 cm wide, lanceolate to narrowly oblong, basal pinna pair somewhat reduced; pinnae 6–8(–12) pairs, narrowly deltate or oblong, lobes acute; segment margins toothed, ciliate or glandular-ciliate; indusial lobes plate-like, only slightly fimbriate at tips; spores 35–55 µm; 2n x152 (USA).

  • Discussion

    Woodsia obtusa (Spreng.) Torr. var. glandulosa D. C. Eaton & Faxon, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 9: 50. 1882 (renaming of W. plummerae). Woodsia obtusa var. plummerae (Lemmon) Maxon, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 23: 644. 1901. Woodsia pusilla E. Fourn. var. glandulosa (D. C. Eaton & M. Faxon) T. M. C. Taylor, Amer. Fern J. 37: 86. 1947. Type. U.S.A. Arizona: Chiricahua Mts, 24 Sep 1881, Lemmon & Lemmon s.n. (UC!; isotypes F, GH, K, US).

    Woodsia plummerae is distinct in being extremely glandular, the glands often expanded at tip and yellowish. The adaxial surfaces are dull and have no projections. The stipe bases are dark for about 1 cm or more, and indusial segments few, wide, entire, and with few projections. The diploid form is rare, most plants being tetraploids. Whether they are allo- or autotetraploids is unknown. Woodsia plummerae crosses with W. phillipsii to form sterile intermediates.