Pterozonium maguirei Lellinger

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1967. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part VII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 17: 1-439.

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pterozonium maguirei Lellinger

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Rhizoma erecta crassa (?) vel breviter repens (?), paleaceum, paleis densis crassis nigris elongato-triangularibus vel lanceolatis, basi ca 6 cellulis latis, apice setiformis, seta 1-cellulo lata; frondes imparipinnatae, saltem usque ad 1 m altae, plus minusve lineares, ad apicem versus paulo angustatae, basi non decrescentes; stipites quam laminae ca 3-plo longiores, castanei vel deorsum fere atropurpurei, demum distaliter laete griseo-brunnei, basi setis dissitis praediti alibi glabri; rhaches laete griseo-brunneae glabrae, supra leviter canaliculatae, canalibus interruptis et cum canaliculis costalibus confluentibus; pinnae siccitate supra laete virides, subtus griseae vel stramineae, flabellatae, paulo latiores quam longiores, usque ad 4.5 cm longae et 5 cm latae, apice rotundatae, basi cuneatae, marginibus integris d e m u m paulo incurvatis; venae utrinque visibiles vix prominulae; sori in fascia apicali et marginali lata saepe submarginali usque ad 1.5 cm lata; paraphyses numerosae laxae multicellulares apice aciculares; sporangia breviter pedicellata, basi saepe parajihysata, annulo ex 17-19 cellulis constituto, stomio vix dissimili; sporae 64 per sporangium, asjiectu polari acriter triangulares evidenter triradiatae facie fere plana, facie opposita late rotundata.

  • Discussion

    Cerro de la Neblina, between east and north heads of Cafion Grande, alt 1900-2000 m, Amazonas, Venezuela, Maguire, Wurdack d- Maguire 42448 (holotype US, isotypes G, N Y , V E N ) . This species is named in honor of its discoverer. Dr. Bassett Maguire.

    Pterozonium maguirei can be confused only with P spectabile. from which it is different in its glabrous stipes much longer than its rhachises and in its flabellate, not reniform, pinnae. Dr. Alaguire reports (pers. comm.) that this species occurs in well-drained areas and forms dense "brakes" about knee high which are difficult to walk through.