Elaphoglossum paleaceum (Hook. & Grev.) Sledge

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Dryopteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Elaphoglossum paleaceum (Hook. & Grev.) Sledge

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizomes short-creeping, to 10 mm diam.; rhizome scales linear-lanceolate, black (rarely dark brown) and opaque, ca. 5 mm long, margin with rigid hair-like teeth; fronds clumped, 10– 53 x 0.9–4 cm; phyllopodia distinct; stipes 1/4–1/3 the frond length, 1–1.5 mm diam., densely clothed with spreading, black or orange scales similar in shape and toothing to those of rhizomes, to 3 mm long; blades narrowly elliptic, chartaceous, bases narrowly to broadly cuneate to rounded, apices acuminate to caudate; veins obscure, free, simple or once-forked, ca. 1 mm apart, at ca. 70º angle to costa; hydathodes absent; abaxial blade scales abundant, plane, scattered or overlapping, lanceolate, ca. 2 mm long, with long hair-teeth, the hairs 1–2 times as long as width of scale body, usually those of the stipes and costae dark, dark ones sometimes scattered in proximal part of blades; adaxial scales similar, but less abundant; fertile fronds shorter than the sterile, to 28 x 1.4 cm but with same shape, scales along the abaxial costae and only occasionally among the sporangia.

  • Discussion

    Acrostichum paleaceum Hook. & Grev., Icon. Filic. 2: t. 235, plate as “paleaceum,” text as “vestitum.” 1832. Type. Madeira. Ribeiro Frio, Lowe s.n., 16 Apr 1828 (K!).

    Acrostichum squamosum Sw., J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(2): 11. 1801, hom. illeg., non Cav., 1799. Elaphoglossum squamosum J. Sm., J. Bot. (Hooker) 4: 148. 1841. Type. None cited.

    Elaphoglossum hirtum sensu auct., non Acrostichum hirtum Sw., J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(2): 10. 1801.

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Mich (reported by Di´az-Barriga & Palacios-Rios, 1992, but no specimen cited and not verified). Qro (Di´az-Barriga & Carranza 6556, IEB, cited by Di´az- Barriga & Palacios-Rios, 1992, but not verified). There is considerable variation in this species in America. One group has black scales on stipes, costae, and broad blades (2.4–4 cm wide) that are densely to only moderately covered with scales. The other large group has only orange-tan scales. None of the Mexican specimens quite match the type of E. paleaceum from Madeira. There are close relatives in Mesoamerica and South America as well as in Africa and India. Unfortunately, there is an earlier name for this species, E. semicylindricum (T. Bowdich) Benl, also of Madeira. For now, we prefer to continue to use the widely applied name E. paleaceum until species limits for neotropical and Hawaiian material in this taxonomically difficult complex can be refined.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic and epipetric in wet montane forests and cloud forests; (800-)1200-3000 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, Salv, CR, Pan; Cuba, Jam, Hisp; Col, Ven, Ec, Peru, Braz, Bol; Azores & Madeira, Hawaii.

    Mexico North America| Hawaii United States of America North America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Ecuador South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Colombia South America| West Indies| Jamaica South America| Cuba South America| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| El Salvador Central America| Honduras Central America|