Woodwardia martinezii Maxon ex Weath.
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Authority
Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.
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Family
Blechnaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Rhizomes short to long-creeping, with pale brown scales 5-10 x 1-1.5 mm; fronds mostly erect to ascending; stipes 25-60 cm long, scaly at base, the scales orangish brown; blades pinnatepinnatifid, 20-42 cm long, deltate to broadly ovate; rachises with scattered, often deciduous, fibrillose scales; pinnae 1-5 pairs (usually 2-4 pairs completely free), the lower and longest ones 13- 23 x 5-11 cm, free pinnae cuneate at base, pinnatifid, sharply asymmetric at base by the reduction of the basalmost basiscopic lobe(s); pinna lobes broadly attached at base, attenuate to rounded at apex, or frequently with margins of proximal pinnae crenate to deeply incised, spinulose along the margins; indument abaxially absent or of sparse fibrillose scales 0.1-0.2 mm long on costules, veins, and leaf tissue, costae lacking scales, laminar glands absent; sori along costules, entire length of costae, and along rachises of the pinnatifid apex, varying greatly in length, linear, 3-40+ mm long, becoming confluent upon dehiscence of sporangia, superficial on the blade tissue, the lamina not or only faintly embossed; indusia thin, erose, spreading and hidden by dehiscing sporangia, retaining configuration after dehiscence of sporangia; spores 32 per sporangium?
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Discussion
Type. Mexico. Hidalgo: near Zacualtipa´n, Marti´nez 27 (US!, photo UC!; isotypes B, BR, ENCB, LL, UC!).
This species is narrowly endemic and probably relatively basal in the genus (Cranfill, 2001); it may also be relictual, having once had a much wider distribution. The dissection and architecture of the blades, soral configuration, and rhizome structure all suggest relationship with some Asian species, e.g.,W. japonica (L.f.) Sm., but probably not with W. kempii Numerous, as suggested by Tryon and Tryon (1982). Weatherby (1949) observed that this species combined features of Woodwardia s.str. (such as 1–2 rows of areoles outside the costal ones, spinulose-serrate margins, granular spores) with features of the segregate genus Anchistea (such as the strong development of costal sori which are superficial and membranous) and that this “emphasizes the untenability of Anchistea as a genus.” Hybrids are postulated be tween W. martinezii and W. spinulosa, and these are interpreted as resulting in the next species, W. semicordata (which see).
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Distribution
Terrestrial, in mesic woods, often in ravines or along streambanks, oak forests, montane cloud forests; 1200-2000 m. Mexico.
Mexico North America|