Asplenium achilleifolium (Lam.) C.Chr.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.

  • Family

    Aspleniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Asplenium achilleifolium (Lam.) C.Chr.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizome suberect; rhizome scales brown, clathrate, often black near tip, long-attenuate, 1.5-5 mm long, 0.8-2 mm wide, entire; fronds clumped; stipe 7-40 cm long, ½-2/3 the frond length, greenish-gray, dull, grooved, nonalate, with scattered to sparse, hairlike, clathrate scales, 0.5-1 mm long, two cells wide at base; blade 15-80 cm long, 8-26 cm wide, bipinnate with 0.5-0.8 mm wide wing on pinnae, lower pinnae slightly reduced, apex pinnatifid, non-proliferous, ovate-lanceolate, rachis similar to stipe, wing 0.3 mm wide; pinnae 4-15 cm long, 2-5 cm wide with pinnules sharply incised, 11-18 pairs, sessile, drying green, glabrous, chartaceous to membranous, pinnules adnate at their base, not or slightly narrowed at base; veins one per tooth, not reaching margin; sori 2-8 pairs per pinna; indusium 1.5-2.5 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, subentire to erose, tan in teeth.

  • Discussion

    Caenopteris achilleifolia Martens & Galeotti, Mém. foug. Mexique 63, t. 16. 1842. Athyrium achilleifolium (Martens & Galeotti) Fée, Mém. foug. 5: 186. 1852. Syntypes. Mexico. Veracruz: Vic. Mirador, Galeotti 6279 (BR!; isosyntypes K, P, NY!), 6293 (BR!, photo NY!; isosyntype NY!). Athyrium conchatum Fée, Mém. foug. 5: 188, t. 17C, f. 1. 1852. Asplenium conchatum (Fée) Moore, Index fil. 49. 1857. Type. Mexico. “Ad craterem Cerro Sancti Martini,” Galeotti 6569 (P?; isotype K). This highly variable species is part of a complex that involves Asplenium commutatum and A. solmsii. Material from Oaxaca falls roughly into two types: 1) the typical material from 1550-1850 m elevation with large rhizome scales (45 mm long, 1.5-3 mm wide) and erose indusia (0.8-1 mm wide and 2-2.5 mm long), and 2) specimens (6141, 6188, Hellwig 1292) from 1050-1550 m elevation with small rhizome scales (1.5-3 mm by 0.5-0.8 mm) and subentire indusia (0.5-0.8 mm wide and 1.5-2 mm long). These latter specimens also have somewhat more divided pinnules, the ultimate segments pointed. They appear to be intermediate between typical A. achilleifolium and A. solmsii Baker ex Hemsley (Biol, centr.-amer., Bot. 3: 639. 1885) from Guatemala and Chiapas, from 900 to 1000 m elevation, which has narrow scales (3-4 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm wide), entire indusia (0.1-0.3 mm wide, 1-1.5 mm long), ultimate segments cut 34 mm deep with forked ends. Material from Chiapas (A. R. Smith, 1981), which was considered to be intermediate between A. achilleifolium and A. commutatum from Cerro Baul, is similar to the Oaxacan specimen, intermediate between A. achilleifolium and A. solmsii. The relationship of the latter two species needs clarification. Asplenium grande Fée (Mém. foug. 8: 82. 1857) from Veracruz is similar to A. achilleifolium (and may be conspecific) except the indusia are located along the midrib of the pinna where the veins to the pinnules diverge (instead of out on the pinnules).

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial on moist slopes in wet woods; Choapan, Juchitán, Juquila; (250-)500-1850 m. Mexico (Sin, Nay, Jal, Mich, Ver, Oax, Chis); Guat to Nic.

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Nicaragua Central America|