Asplenium dentatum L.

  • 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 dentatum L.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Roots thin, fibrous, proliferous; rhizomes erect; rhizome scales blackish throughout, clathrate, 1-2 x 0.2-0.3 mm, entire; fronds clumped, subdimorphic, the sterile forming a rosette, spreading or prostrate, 3-12 cm long, short-stiped, the fertile central, erect, 10-25 cm long, long-stiped, stipes nearly as long as blades; stipes darkened proximally, greenish distally, mostly 2-15 cm x 0.5-1 mm, 1/5-2/3 of frond length, glabrous, adaxially with whitish, thickened, lateral ridges bordering the grooves; blades herbaceous, 1-pinnate, 3-10(-15) x 1-2.5 cm, usually with subflabellate terminal segments, not proliferous; rachises green throughout, glabrous, not or obscurely winged, but adaxially with two ridges; pinnae oblong to trapeziform (fertile subflabellate), 6-13 pairs, more widely spaced on fertile fronds, 3-11 x (2-)4-6 mm, the proximal ones short-stalked 1-2 mm, cuneate and unequal proximally, rounded or dentate at apices, margins subentire to serrate acroscopically, entire basiscopically; veins evident, mostly simple or first acroscopic one 1-forked, tips evident adaxially; indument abaxially of scattered appressed, whitish to brown clavate hairs 0.1-0.2 mm long; sori 2-4(-5) pairs, on both sides of midveins; indusia whitish, 2-6 x 0.5-0.6 mm, margins entire; spores reniform; 2n=108 (Jam).

  • Discussion

    Lectotype (chosen by Morton & Lellinger, 1966: 25). Plumier, Traite´ Foug. Ame´r., pl. 101C. 1705. Adams (in Davidse et al., 1995) regarded Plumier’s Desc. Pl. Ame´r., pl. 50, 1693, as lectotype.

    This differs from congeners in Mexico by the subdimorphic fronds, the fertile more erect and twice the length (or more) of the sterile fronds in fully developed plants. The sterile fronds are spreading or arching fronds and form a rosette. Asplenium dentatum superficially resembles species of the A. monanthes group, but it is not closely related, differing by the greenish or yellowgreen stipes and rachises and the lack of true wings adaxially on these same axes.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial or epipetric on calcareous rocks, cave entrances; 100-800 m. USA (Fla); Mexico; Guat, Bel; Berm,Bah, Gr & L Ant; Col, Ven, Trin. Also cited from Honduras by Adams (in Davidse et al., 1995).

    United States of America North America| Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Belize Central America| Bermuda South America| Bahamas South America| West Indies| Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Honduras Central America|