Asplenium myriophyllum C.Presl

  • 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 myriophyllum C.Presl

  • Description

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    Species Description - Roots thin, fibrous, proliferous; rhizomes erect; rhizome scales blackish, clathrate, but lumina small, occluded, 0.8–1.5 x 0.5– 0.7 mm, entire; fronds clumped, 6–30 cm long; stipes reddish brown to gray-green, dull, 1–12 cm x 0.5–1 mm, ca. 1/10(–1/3) of frond length, glabrous, wings seemingly absent; blades membranaceous, elliptical, 5–25 x 2.5–8 cm, 3-pinnate, tapering proximally and distally, apices elongate, non-conform, not proliferous; rachises reddish brown to gray-green, dull, glabrous, adaxially with narrow green wings 0.1–0.2 mm wide; pinnae broadly lanceolate, 10–20 pairs, 1.5–6 x 1–2 cm, sessile to stalked to 2 mm, 2-pinnate, ultimate segments obovate to elliptical, ca. 1 mm wide, narrowed proximally, apices acute, non-falcate; veins 1 per ultimate segment, tips evident adaxially; indument abaxially of scattered, tan, appressed clavate hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long; sori 1 per ultimate segment; indusia 1–1.5(–2) x 0.5–0.8 mm, margins entire; spores reniform; 2n=144 (USA).

  • Discussion

    Caenopteris myriophylla Sw., J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(2): 60. 1801. Type. Jamaica. Swartz s.n. (S-photo US!; isotype B-Willd. 19859, photo NY, microfiche UC!).

    Asplenium monteverdense Hook., Sec. Cent. Ferns, pl. 41. 1860. Type. Cuba. Oriente: Monte Verde, Wright 1029 (K!; isotypes B!, GH, NY!, US!).

    Asplenium verecundum Chapm. ex Underw., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 33: 193. 1906. Type. U.S.A. Florida: Jackson Co., Chapman s.n. (NY!).

    This species was treated as Asplenium divaricatum Kunze (Linnaea 9: 71. 1834, type from Peru, Cerro de San Cristo´bal, prope Cassapi, Poeppig [1151], isotypes B!, NY!, P!, W) by Mickel and Beitel (1988), but Smith (1981) and Tryon and Stolze (1993), restricted the application of A. divaricatum to plants from Peru. Adams (in Davidse et al., 1995) circumscribed A. divaricatum more broadly, to include plants from Guatemala, Trinidad, Brazil, and Chile, but he did not admit Mexico in the range. Putative hybrids, intermediate in morphology between the suspected parents, occur between A. myriophyllum and A. cristatum cristatum: Mickel 7301B, NY, from Oaxaca. In Florida, Asplenium myriophyllum hybridizes with A. abscissum to form A. xcurtissii Underw. See discussion under A. cristatum and A. rutaceum for differences with those taxa.

    Epipetric (on limestone) and terrestrial; 700- 2700 m. USA (Fla); Mexico; Guat; Berm, Gr Ant; Ven. Also cited from Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia by Adams (in Davidse et al., 1995), but no doubt this wider range is a reflection of the broader circumscription he adopted for the species. For example, Cornman 935, cited as this species from Panama by Adams, is A. cristatum, in our opinion. We doubt that the species is this widely distributed, as we circumscribe it.

  • Distribution

    Mexico North America|