Adiantum caryotideum Christ

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Adiantum caryotideum Christ

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizomes short-creeping, 5-10 mm diam.; rhizome scales dark brown to blackish, clathrate, scales ca. 2 x 0.3-0.5 mm, margins denticulate; fronds clumped, 50-75 cm long, arching; stipes atropurpureous to blackish, lustrous, ca. 35 cm x 3 mm, 1/2 the frond length, with appressed scattered scales, glabrescent; blades deltate, 2-pinnate, ca. 20-25 x 7-15 cm, broadest at bases, terminal pinna of each blade larger than lateral pinnae and with about 9 pairs of pinnules; rachises atropurpureous, with scattered, spreading, linear scales 1-5 mm long, scales often caducous; pinnae 2-3 lateral pairs, to ca. 15 x 7 cm, with ca. 6-7 pairs of pinnules; pinnules ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2.5-4.5(-8) x 1.5-2(-3) cm, sterile margins serrate to biserrate, distal pinnules of each pinna not greatly reduced, terminal pinnules hastate, to 6 x 2 cm, stalked 2-5 mm, stalk color stopping rather abruptly at bases of pinnulets, non-articulate; veins free, forking, ending in marginal serrations; indument absent on both sides of blades, not glaucous; idioblasts present and conspicuous on both blade surfaces; sori 5-10 per pinnule, along acroscopic and distal part of basiscopic margins; indusia mostly 3-5 mm long, linear-oblong, glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Type. Costa Rica, 1903, Werckle´ s.n. (P!). This is a very distinct but rare species in Mexico and appears to be related to A. seemannii. It is amply distinct from all other Mexican species by the bipinnate fronds with relatively few pinnae, small number of pinnules per pinna, large terminal pinna that exceeds the lateral ones in length and width, and the large pinnules, exceeded only by those of A. seemannii in Mexico.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial in lowland rain forests; 200-300 m. Mexico; Guat, CR, Pan.

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