Bolbitis

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Dryopteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Bolbitis

  • Description

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    Genus Description - Terrestrial or hemiepiphytic; rhizomes creeping, scaly; fronds medium-sized, erect, dimorphic, the fertile with contracted pinnae or lobes and proportionately longer stipes; stipes glabrous or sparsely scaly, not articulate to rhizomes; blades simple to pinnate, less commonly to bipinnatifid, thin to subcoriaceous, glabrous; veins areolate, with or without included free veinlets; proliferous buds present at bases or tips of blades in some species; sporangia usually covering the abaxial surfaces of fertile blades; indusia and paraphyses absent; spores bilateral, each with winged or rugose perispore; x=41.

  • Discussion

    Lectotype (chosen by Christensen, Index Filic. XXVI. 1906): Bolbitis serratifolia (Kaulf.) Schott [= Acrostichum serratifolium Kaulf.].

    There are about 45 species in the genus, which is pantropical; about a third of the species occur in the Neotropics. Eight species are known in Mexico, and all, except B. portoricensis, are restricted to southern Mexico. Bolbitis species in Mexico occur in lowland to middle elevation wet forests and are uncommon or rare. The genus is distinct in its areolate venation, dimorphic fronds, and sporangia covering the abaxial surfaces of fertile blades. Unpublished molecular data by Cranfill indicate that Bolbitis is a member of the dryopteroid clade, with chromosome base number of x=41, and probably allied to Elaphoglossum and several other genera that show tendencies to be epiphytic or hemiepiphytic, e.g., Lomagramma, Cyclodium, Maxonia, Polybotrya, and Olfersia.