Mickelia oligarchica (Baker) R.C.Moran, Labiak & Sundue
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Authority
Moran, Robbin C., et al. 2010. Synopsis of
, a newly recognized genus of bolbitidoid ferns (Dryopteridaceae). Brittonia. 62 (4): 337-356. -
Family
Dryopteridaceae
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Scientific Name
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Discussion
Mickelia oligarchica is easily recognizable by its trifoliolate leaves with relatively large terminal segments, and buds at the bases of the two lateral pinnae. The buds are present on both sterile and fertile leaves. Some specimens from South America differ from the Central American ones by having more densely scaly rhizomes and petioles, but no other differences appear to correlate. The single specimen known from Guyana (Henkel 755, NY) is unusual because it lacks buds but is otherwise typical.
In the wild, the sterile laminae are often oriented more or less parallel to the ground. Their upper surfaces traps fallen organic matter in the shallow depression at the juncture of the two lateral pinnae and terminal segment. The organic matter decays to form a humus in which the buds proliferate. As the leaf senesces and inclines toward the ground, the buds are lowered to the soil where they take root. In the field it is common to find young plantlets on senesced, partially decayed leaves still attached to the parent plant (Moran, pers. obs.). The only other species of Mickelia with buds is M. hemiotis (also terrestrial), which differs from M oligarch- ica by having 2 or 3 pairs of lateral pinnae.