Asplenium achilleifolium (Lam.) C.Chr.

Authority

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

Family

Aspleniaceae

Scientific Name

Asplenium achilleifolium (Lam.) C.Chr.

Description

Species Description - Roots fibrous, not proliferous; rhizomes suberect; rhizome scales brown or often black near tips, clathrate, long-attenuate, 1.5–5 x 0.8–2 mm, entire; fronds clumped, mostly 50–120 cm; stipes greenish gray, dull, (12–)20–40 cm x 2–5 mm, 1/3–1/2 of frond length, with scattered, hair-like, clathrate scales, 0.5–1 mm long, scales 2 cells wide at bases, lacking green wings; blades chartaceous to membranaceous, ovate-lanceolate, 15–80 x 8–26 cm, 2-pinnate with wings 0.5–0.8 mm wide on pinnae, proximal pinnae slightly reduced, apices pinnatifid, nonproliferous; rachises similar to stipes in color, bearing numerous linear or hairlike scales mostly 0.5–1.5 mm long, with wings 0.3 mm wide; pinnae oblong-lanceolate, 11–18 pairs, (4–)10–15 x 2–5 cm, sessile, pinnules to ca. 20 pairs per pinna, adnate at their bases and confluent with adjacent pinnules, not or only slightly narrowed, serrately incised; veins 1 per tooth, 3–6 pairs in each pinnule, tips evident adaxially; indument abaxially of scattered, appressed, tan, clavate hairs 0.1–0.2 mm; sori 2–8 pairs per pinna; indusia 1.5– 2.5 x 0.5–1 mm, margins subentire to erose or sometimes ciliate with hairs 0.1 mm long; spores reniform.

Discussion

Caenopteris achilleifolia M. Martens & Galeotti, Me´m. Foug. Mexique 63, pl. 16. 1842. Athyrium achilleifolium (M. Martens & Galeotti) Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 5: 186. 1852. Syntypes. Mexico. Veracruz: Vicinity of Mirador, Galeotti 6279 (BR!; isosyntypes K!, P!, frags. NY!), 6293 (BR!-photo NY!; frag. NY!).

Athyrium conchatum Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 5: 188, t. 17C, f. 1. 1852. Asplenium conchatum (Fe´e) T. Moore, Index Fil. 49. 1857. Type. Mexico. “Ad craterem Cerro Sancti Martini,” Galeotti 6569 (P? not found; isotype K!)

Asplenium grande Fe´e, Me´m. Foug. 8: 82. 1857, non Sw., 1806. Type. Mexico. Veracruz: “barranca de San Martin et de San Francisco, pre`s de Mirador,” Schaffner 74 (not found at P).

Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Mich (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but not verified). This highly variable species is part of a complex that involves A. blepharophorum, A. eatonii, and A. solmsii. Material of A. achilleifolium from southern Mexico falls roughly into two morphological groups: 1) specimens with large rhizome scales 4–5 x 1.5–3 mm and erose indusia 0.8–1 x 2–2.5 mm; and 2) specimens with small rhizome scales 1.5–3 x 0.5–0.8 mm and subentire indusia 0.5–0.8 x 1.5–2 mm. Specimens in this second group also have somewhat more divided pinnules, with the ultimate segments acute. They vary in the direction of A. eatonii in western Mexico. Particularly problematic are specimens from Oaxaca and Chiapas, e.g., Breedlove 24715, 24917 (DS, NY) and 31323 (DS, MEXU, NY). The interrelationships of the species in this group need clarification. Asplenium grande, cited in synonymy, has indusia that are located along the costae where veins to the pinnules diverge, instead of on the pinnules. Asplenium achilleifolium was reported by Mickel and Beitel (1988) from Sinaloa, but specimens from this area appear to be A. eatonii, which see.

Distribution

Terrestrial or epipetric on moist slopes in wet woods; (250–)500–2300 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR (Hammel 17802, US); Peru.

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