Lellingeria phlegmaria (J.Sm.) 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 phlegmaria (J.Sm.) A.R.Sm. & R.C.Moran

  • Type

    Type. Venezuela. Bolivar: Near Mt. Roraima, R. Schomburgk 161 (holotype, K)

  • Synonyms

    Polypodium phlegmarium J.Sm., Grammitis phlegmaria var. antillensis Proctor, Polypodium tovarense Klotzsch

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants epiphytic; fronds pendent, indeterminate; rhizome erect, radial, with ventral root insertion, scaly the scales 1-2 x 0.1-0.3 mm, ovate-lanceolate, the apex short-attenuate, clathrate, dark golden brown, glabrous or with only a single apical cilium; petiole 0.5-1 x 0.5 mm, dark brown, narrowly winged, glabrescent or sparsely pubescent, the hairs ca. 0.1 mm long, appressed, simple, 2-celled, yellowish; lamina 10-25 cm long, linear-lanceolate, membranaceous, deeply pinnatisect, 15-30 pairs of segments, abruptly reduced at the base with 2-3 basal segments shorter than the median ones, the lowermost auriculiform and long-decurrent onto petiole base, broadest above the base, but showing periodic constrictions, the apex gradually reduced, pinnatifid, not ending in a conform or subconform segment; rachis straight to slightly flexuous, with dark sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue on both sides (not visible), glabrescent on both sides, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long, appressed, simple, 2-celled, yellowish; segments 0.4-0.7 x 0.3-0.5 mm, sinuate, set 80-90° to rachis, widened and asymmetric at the base, long-decurrent basiscopically, strongly cuneate and lobulate acroscopically, the base attached parallel on the rachis (i.e., both sides inserted along the same radius), the lobule not overlapping the base of the next segment, the apex obtuse, the margin crenulate, sinuate, glabrous, abaxial lamina surface glabrescent, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, adaxial lamina surface glabrous; sinuses as broad as the segments; venation pinnate, with 2-3(-4) pairs of veins per segment; costae with blackish sclerenchyma obscured by laminar tissue on both sides, sparsely pubescent abaxially, the hairs similar to those of the rachis abaxially, glabrous adaxially; veins simple, without blackish sclerenchyma, ending in hydathodes that lack calcareous deposits; sori medial, rounded, not protruding beyond the costa and margin, up to 2(-3) pairs per segment, sunken; sporangial capsules glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Lellingeria phlegmaria is characterized by its glabrous rhizome scales, pendent fronds with indeterminate growth, and crenulate segment margins. In these aspects, it resembles L. depressa from Brazil, which is distinct in having longer segments (usually more than three times longer than wide) and chartaceous laminae. In contrast, L. phlegamaria has segments that are about as long as wide and membranaceous laminae.

    One specimen (van der Werff et al 15347, UC) from Peru is unusual because of its chartaceous lamina and narrower segments, which resemble those of Lellingeria suspensa. However, the rachis is completely obscured by laminar tissue, and the crenulate margins suggest that it is only a local variation of this species. Another specimen (Kessler et al 12041, GOET) from Bolivia is also unusual because some of the fronds are 1-pinnate-pinnatisect, which is an extreme variation of the lamina dissection in this species.

  • Distribution

    Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia at 1000-2700 m elevation.

    Roraima Brazil South America| Heredia Costa Rica Central America| Cochabamba Bolivia South America| La Paz Bolivia South America| Morona-Santiago Ecuador South America| Zamora-Chinchipe Ecuador South America| Cuyuni-Mazaruni Guyana South America| San Martín Peru South America| Aragua Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| Antioquia Colombia South America|