Megalastrum inaequale (Kaulf. ex Link) A.R.Sm. & R.C.Moran

  • Family

    Dryopteridaceae (Pteridophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Megalastrum inaequale (Kaulf. ex Link) A.R.Sm. & R.C.Moran

  • Primary Citation

    Amer. Fern J. 77(4): 128. 1987

  • Description

    by: R.C. Moran, J. Prado, and P.H. Labiak

    Lectotype: (designated by Moran et al, 2009): collected in Brazil in 1839 and cultivated in the Berlin Botanical Garden, "Hb Link," collector unknown s.n. (B-200059182; duplicates: BM, P)

    Description: Leaves to 3 m long; scales of the petiole bases ca. 2 × 0.15 cm, narrowly lanceolate, denticulate, brown, flat (not twisted), en masse not forming a woolly tuft; laminae 2 m long, to 3-pinnate-pinnatifid at base, 2-pinnate-pinnatifid medially, shiny on both surfaces, paler abaxially; basal pinnae 20-40 cm long, stalks to 1 cm long, inequilateral, pinnules acroscopically slightly reduced toward the pinna bases; pinna rachises abaxially non-glandular, pubescent, scaly, hairs 0.1-0.3 mm long, 1-3-celled, antrorsely substrigose (slightly curved toward apex), scales ca. 2.5 mm long, ovate-lanceolate to (less commonly) linear, light brown, subentire, flat to sub-bullate, adaxially non-glandular, densely pubescent, hairs ca. 0.5 mm long, 3- or 4-celled, strigose; costules abaxially non-glandular, pubescent, hairs ca. 0.1-0.2 mm long, 1-3-celled, scaly, scales like those of pinna rachises but more bullate, adaxially with hairs like those of costae; laminar tissue between veins non-glandular and glabrous on both surfaces; veins visible on both surfaces, non-glandular, abaxially sparsely pubescent and inconspicuously scaly, hairs ca. 0.1 mm long, 1-celled, slightly strigose, scales 0.3-0.4 mm long, uniseriate, appressed, reddish, adaxially sparsely puberulent, hairs 0.2-0.3 mm long, 1-3-celled; lamina margins thick, glabrous to sparsely ciliate, hairs ca. 0.1 mm long, 2-celled, strigose; indusia absent or appearijg absent, if present easily overlooked, fugacious.

    Distribution: Endemic to coastal Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo); 300-1200 m.

    Comments: Megalastrum inaequale is characterized by slightly antrorsely strigose hairs on the costae and costules abaxially and moderately dense, subbullate scales on the axes. The laminae are thick, slightly shiny adaxially, and paler abaxially.

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.