Lellingeria pendula (Sw.) A.R.Sm. & R.C.Moran

Authority

Labiak Evangelista, Paulo H. 2013. Grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae). I. . Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 111: 1--130. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family

Polypodiaceae

Scientific Name

Lellingeria pendula (Sw.) A.R.Sm. & R.C.Moran

Type

Type. Jamaica. no locality, s.d., O. Swartz s.n. (holotype, S).

Synonyms

Polypodium pendulum Sw., Ctenopteris pendula J.Sm., Grammitis pendula (Sw.) Proctor

Description

Species Description - Plants epiphytic; fronds pendent, determinate, rhizome erect, radial, with ventral root insertion, scaly, the scales 2-2.5 x 0.3-0.5 mm, linear-lanceolate, the apex long-attenuate, clathrate, castaneous, ciliate, the cilia simple, present on scale margins and apex (apical cilia furcate); petiole 0.5-2 x 0.3-0.5 mm, dark brown, terete, sparsely pubescent, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple or 1-furcate, 2- to 3-celled whitish to reddish; lamina 10—15(—20) cm long, lanceolate, chartaceous, deeply pinnatisect, 20-25(pairs of segments, abruptly reduced at the base with 2-4 basal segments shorter than the median ones, the lowermost auriculiform, decurrent onto the petiole base, broadest in the middle, not showing periodic constrictions, the apex abruptly reduced, pinnatifid, not ending in a subconform segment; rachis straight, with dark sclerenchyma visible abaxially, obscured by laminar tissue adaxially (not visible), sparsely pubescent to glabrous abaxially, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, spreading, simple or 1-furcate, 2- to 3-celled, whitish, glabrous adaxially; segments 0.8-1.2 x 0.2-0.3 cm, plane, set 70-80° to rachis, widened and symmetric at the base, decurrent basiscopically, surcurrent acroscopically, the base attached parallel on the rachis (i.e., both sides inserted along the same radius), not cuneate acroscopically, not lobulate, not overlapping the base of the next segment, the apex acute to obtuse, the margin entire, plane or slightly recurved, abaxial lamina surface sparsely pubescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses narrower than or as broad as the segments; venation pinnate, with 4-8 pairs of veins persegment; costae with blackish sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue on both sides, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially; veins simple, with blackish sclerenchyma restricted to base and obscured by laminar tissue, ending in hydathodes that lack calcareous deposits; son medial, rounded, not protruding beyond the margin, 3 4 (-5) pairs per segment, superficial to slightly sunken; sporangial capsules setose, with 1-4 reddish setae.

Discussion

Lellingeria pendula is characterized by its ciliate rhizome scales, slightly sulcate sori, and ciliate sporangia! capsules. Lellingeria laxifolia also has ciliate sporangia, but it is distinct from L. pendula in having sinuses more than four times broader than the segments (with a long wing that connects two adjacent segments), longer segments (to 2.5 cm long), and a larger number of sori per segment (6-12).

Distribution

Jamaica, Guadeloupe, and Venezuela at 1000-1800 m elevation.

Jamaica South America| Guadeloupe South America| Aragua Venezuela South America| Miranda Venezuela South America| Yaracuy Venezuela South America| Portland Jamaica South America| Saint Andrew Jamaica South America| Saint Thomas Jamaica South America| Basse-Terre Guadeloupe South America|