Adiantum deflectens Mart.

  • 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 deflectens Mart.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizomes short-creeping to erect, 2–4 mm diam.; rhizome scales bicolorous, center dark brown, margins light brown, 2 x 0.1–0.3 mm, margins entire; fronds clumped, (8–)12–30 cm long, arching; stipes castaneous to atropurpureous, dull to sublustrous, to 15 cm x 0.5–0.8 mm, 1/4–1/2 the frond length, glabrous; blades lanceolate, 1-pinnate, tapering to apices, 2–5 cm wide; rachises castaneous, glabrous, outside Mexico occasionally flagelliform and rooting at tips; pinnae 3–10 pairs, alternate, stalked 3–8 mm, stalk color stopping x abruptly at pinna bases, articulate; ultimate divisions (pinnae) cuneate-flabellate, asymmetrical to symmetrical, 12–14 mm long, blades usually with a +/- conform terminal pinna, pinnae cleft or lobed to 3 mm deep, 2–7 lobes per pinna, sterile margins sharply serrulate; veins free, forking; ending in sharp and conspicuous teeth on sterile pinnae; indument absent on both sides of blades; idioblasts absent; sori 3–7 per pinna, confined to distal margins; indusia 1–5 mm long, oblong to slightly arcuate, glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Type. Brazil. Para´: Santare´m, Martius s.n. (M).

    This is often confused with A. lunulatum. Adiantum deflectens is distinct in its articulate pinnae, short pinna stalks, veins ending in teeth, and tan spores. The rather few Mexican specimens have pinnae that are not as sharply serrate as in South American material. Also, the Mexican specimens seen show no evidence of the rachises being prolonged and rooting at the tips, as is common elsewhere in the range of the species. The closest relatives of A. deflectens are a small group of South American species that include A. delicatulum Mart. in Brazil and Paraguay, A. calcareum Gardn. from the same two countries, and A. mendoncae Alston from Mozambique and Zimbabwe!

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial in lowland moist woods near streams, tropical deciduous forests; 150–780 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan; Col, Ven, Fr Gui, Ec, Peru, Braz, Bol, Parag.

    Paraguay South America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| French Guiana South America| Venezuela South America| Panama Central America| Nicaragua Central America| El Salvador Central America| Honduras Central America| Guatemala Central America| México Mexico North America|