Lomariopsis mexicana Holttum

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Lomariopsidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Lomariopsis mexicana Holttum

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizome scales stramineous to pale, lustrous, margins ciliate; stipes 5–15 cm long, 1/4–1/3 the frond length, stramineous to brown, scaly; sterile blades lanceolate, 30–60 x 12–20 cm, proximal 1–3 pinna pairs somewhat reduced (to ca. 2/3 of longest pinnae); rachises slightly alate; pinnae 12–15 pairs, 6–10 x 1.5–2.5 cm, rounded to broadly cuneate at bases, apices abruptly acuminate, margins entire to crenulate; fertile fronds with 12–15 pinna pairs, pinnae 12–13 x 0.3–0.4 cm.

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. [Hidalgo:] Patrero, Hahn 56 (P!, frag. NY!).

    This taxon, first mentioned by Underwood (1906) and named by Holttum (1940), is somewhat intermediate between L. vestita and L. recurvata, and Smith (1981) postulated that this poorly known species might be a hybrid. In characters of both the sterile and fertile blades it is intermediate in most characteristics (e.g., pinna base, sterile blade base, dimensions of fertile pinnae). However, the spores of the type fragment and other specimens examined (Cruden 1114, Va´zquez T. 2561) appear well formed and are highly ornamented and cristate (cf. R. M. Tryon & A. F. Tryon, 1982: 611). Moran (in Davidse et al., 1995: 284; 2000) synonymized L. mexicana under L. recurvata, but to us they seem adequately distinct. Because of its morphological intermediacy between L. recurvata and L. vestita, the possibility that it was formed through hybridization should be investigated.