Bolbitis aliena (Sw.) Alston

  • 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 aliena (Sw.) Alston

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizomes long-creeping, mostly 3–4 mm diam.; rhizome scales brown, lanceolate, 4–7 x 1–1.5 mm, entire; fronds distant, 25– 65(–90) cm long; stipes 15–45 cm x 1.5–3 mm, those of sterile fronds ca. 1/2–2/3 the sterile frond length, those of fertile fronds ca. 3/4 the fertile frond length; sterile blades thin-chartaceous, deltate, 15–45(–60) x 15–30 cm, pinnate, apices pinnatifid, nonproliferous; sterile pinnae 1–2 free pairs + 2–7 adnate and strongly decurrent pairs, margins crenate-serrate or shallowly lobed, sometimes cut 1/2 way to costa, basiscopic side exaggerated on proximal pair, regularly lobed or few conspicuous lobes; veins areolate, areoles lacking included veinlets or with only few, short, simple, free veinlets; fertile blades pinnate, 10–16 = 5–12(–20) cm; sporangia nearly covering the abaxial surfaces of fertile blades; 2n=164 (Jam).

  • Discussion

    Unverified Specimens. Chis (Ghiesbreght 409, K, cited by Hennipman, 1977, but not verified; Ghiesbreght 409, GH, is cited by Hennipman, 1977 as Bolbitis serratifolia). Ver (Bourgeau 2147, L, not seen, cited by Hennipman, 1977, but not verified). The nonproliferous pinnatifid blade apices and large areoles without free included veins (or a few, short, unforked included veins) distinguish this species from B. portoricensis, with which it has been confused. An even closer relative is B. umbrosa, which differs by the presence of a small tooth in sinuses of sterile blades. The apparent mixed collection of Ghiesbreght 409, as cited by Hennipman (1977), suggests that the identity of specimens of this number in herbaria needs to be re-examined. Breedlove 21621, 22483, and 30866, cited by Smith (1981: 62) as this species, are all B. umbrosa.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial on rocks or ground in wet forest; 700–1000 m. Mexico; Hond, Nic, CR, Pan; Gr & L Ant; Col,Ven, Trin, Ec, Peru, Bol. Also cited from El Salvador by Seiler (1982: 389).

    Mexico North America| El Salvador Central America| Peru South America| Bolivia South America| Amazonas Ecuador South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Colombia South America| West Indies| Canal Zone Panamá Central America| Puntarenas Costa Rica Central America| Nicaragua Central America| Honduras Central America|