Asplenium resiliens Kunze

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Aspleniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Asplenium resiliens Kunze

  • Description

    Species Description - Roots thin, wiry, fibrous, not proliferous; rhizomes erect; rhizome scales bicolorous, center black, occluded, margins lighter, clathrate, tips uniseriate, 3–5 x 0.2–0.5 mm, entire; fronds clumped, (3–)8–30(–45) cm long; stipes black to atropurpureous, lustrous, 1–3 cm x 0.5–1 mm, 1/10–1/3 of frond length, with scattered, hair-like, clathrate scales 1–1.5 mm long and appressed, tan, clavate hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long, adaxially with whitish to tan wings 0.1–0.2 mm wide; blades subcoriaceous, firm, (5–)9–25 x 1–2 cm, 1-pinnate, linear-lanceolate, proximal 2–6 pinna pairs often reduced and deflexed, apices pinnatifid, not proliferous; rachises blackish, lustrous, glabrous or with a few appressed, tan clavate hairs, adaxially with whitish to tan wings 0.1–0.3 mm wide; pinnae oblong, 20–40 pairs, (4–)10–20 x 2–5 mm, sessile, articulate, rachis color not extending onto pinna stalks, bases somewhat auriculate, apices obtuse, margins subentire or crenate, often with revolute margins; veins 1-forked, obscure, tips not evident adaxially; indument abaxially of scattered clavate hairs 0.1 mm long; sori (1–)2–6(–10) pairs per pinna, on both sides of midveins; indusia 0.8–1.5(–2) x 0.3–0.5 mm, margins erose; spores globose to ovoid; 2n x108, apogamous (Jam).

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Environs of Capulalpan and Hacienda del Carmen, Galeotti 6462 (BR!, photos BM, US!; isotypes BR!-photo US!, P!).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Me´x (McVaugh 4005, ENCB, not seen, cited by Tejero-Di´ez & Arregui´n-Sa´nchez, 2004, but not verified).

    Specimens cited as this species from Chihuahua by Knobloch and Correll (1962) are A. gentryi (e.g., Correll & Gentry 23032; Gentry 8064). Also, inclusion of Chihuahua and Sonora in the range of A. resiliens by Mickel and Beitel (1988) and by Mickel (1992) was based in part on misidentified specimens, but A. resiliens does occur in both states. Asplenium resiliens appears to be most common in northeastern Mexico, in the states of Nuevo Leo´n and Coahuila. Asplenium resiliens is closely related to A. monanthes, but is distinguished from that, as well as other dark-stiped Aspleniums (except A. heterochroum and A. palmeri), by the lack of conspicuous hydathodes adaxially. It is distinguishable from A. heterochroum by the thicker and more deflexed pinnae, forked fertile veins, and occurrence at higher elevations (usually above 1400 m in A. resiliens). Asplenium resiliens differs from A. palmeri in having nonproliferous blade apices, proximal pinnae deflexed, subentire to weakly crenulate pinna margins, and longer stipes. A few mixed collections with other species in the group have been seen, e.g., Copeland herb. 67, UC, from Morelos, which also contains a frond of A. hallbergii.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial or epipetric, in rock crevices, limestone cliffs, pine-oak forests; (300–)1400–3150 m. S USA; Mexico; Guat; Jam, Hisp; Col, Ven, Ec, Peru, Braz, Bol, n Arg, Uru.

    Mexico North America| Uruguay South America| Argentina South America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| West Indies| Jamaica South America| Guatemala Central America|