Megalastrum oreocharis (Sehnem) Salino & Ponce

  • Family

    Dryopteridaceae (Pteridophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Megalastrum oreocharis (Sehnem) Salino & Ponce

  • Primary Citation

    Darwiniana 45: 237. 2007

  • Description

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

    Type: TYPE.-Brazil. Santa Catarina: Lages, [27°49'0"S, 50°19'34"W], 950 m, 10 Jan 1951, Sehnem 5508 (holotype: PACA; isotype: PACA)

    Description: Leaves to 1 m long; scales of the petiole bases 1-2 × 0.15 cm, linear, sparsely denticulate, light brown to brown, twisted, en masse forming a dense wool; laminae 80 cm long, to 2-pinnate-pinnatisect at base, 2-pinnate-pinnatifid medially; basal pinnae ca. 15-20 cm long, stalks to 1 cm long, strongly inequilateral, pinnules acroscopically slightly reduced toward the pinna bases; pinna rachises abaxially non-glandular, very sparsely pubescent, hairs 0.5-1.5 mm long, 4-9 celled, with a few (usually at pinna base) scales, these 2.5 mm long, linear, denticulate; adaxially pubescent, non-glandular, hairs 0.1-0.3 mm long, 1-4-celled; costules abaxially non-glandular, pubescent, sparsely scaly, hairs 0.7-1.5 mm long, 6-11-celled, scales 1-2 mm long, filiform to narrowly lanceolate, non-bullate, adaxially pubescent, hairs 0.6-1 mm long, 4-5-celled; laminar tissue between veins abaxially non-glandular, glabrous, sometimes with sparse uniseriate scales, these ca. 0.2 mm long, appressed, brown, adaxially glabrous; veins adaxially sparsely pubescent, visible, abaxially pubescent, hairs to 1 mm long, 4-10-celled, with sparse uniseriate, filiform scales, these ca. 0.2 mm long, appressed, brown, veins adaxially pubescent, hairs 1.5-2.0 mm long, 8-10-celled; lamina margins non-glandular, sparsely ciliate or apparently eciliate, hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, 1(2)-celled; indusia absent.

    Distribution: S. Brazil (Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul); 0-1000 m.

    Comments: Megalastrum oreocharis resembles a small version of M. connexum but differs by longer hairs (0.7-1.7 mm) on the pinna rachises, costules, and veins abaxially. The plants are generally thinner textured than M. connexum. From M. wacketii, it differs by the glabrous laminar tissue between the veins. Geographically, M. oreocharis and M. wacketii do not overlap. In our region, M. oreocharis has the southernmost distribution of any species.

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