Pleopeltis astrolepis (Liebm.) E.Fourn.

Authority

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

Family

Polypodiaceae

Scientific Name

Pleopeltis astrolepis (Liebm.) E.Fourn.

Description

Species Description - Rhizomes long-creeping, 0.8–1.5 mm diam.; rhizome scales monomorphic, 0.3–0.5 mm long, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, comose with brown hairs 1–1.5 mm long, black-centered, margins narrow, pale, lacerate-denticulate; fronds (4–)8–11(–15) cm long; stipes usually less than 1/10 the frond length, 0–18 mm long, black, strongly flattened; blades simple, linear-lanceolate to narrow-elliptic to oblanceolate, margins thin; midribs abaxially black in proximal 1/2–3/4 of blade length; veins not readily visible; abaxial blade scales scattered to rare, round to ovate-lanceolate, 0.5–1 mm wide, centers pale to dark brown, margins pale brown, fimbriate, scales on midribs scattered, 0.8–1mmlong, lanceolate, cells black, sclerotic; sori oblong, 2–5 mm long, soral scales peltate, 0.1–0.3 mm diam., centers dark brown-black, margins pale brown, fimbriate; 2n=70 (CR), 136 (140?) (Mex, PR, Hisp; Hooper, 1994); 148 (PR), probably erroneous.

Discussion

Polypodium astrolepis Liebm., Mexic. Bregn. 185 (reprint 33). 1849. Phlebodium astrolepis (Liebm.) Conzatti, Fl. Tax. Mex. 1: 100. 1939. Syntypes. Mexico. Oaxaca: Trapiche de la Concepcio´n, Liebmann s.n.; Veracruz: Mirador, Aug 1841 [erroneously 1842 in Hooper, 1994], Liebmann s.n. [Fl. Me´x. 87]. Both specimens are mounted on one sheet (C!). Smith (1981: 176) chose the lowermost specimen as lectotype.

Grammitis lanceolata Schkuhr, Deutschl. Krypt. Gew. 1: 9, t. 7. 1804, non Polypodium lanceolatum L., 1753, nec Pleopeltis lanceolata (L.) Kaulf., 1824. Grammitis elongata Sw., Syn. Fil. 22, 213. 1806, non Pleopeltis elongata Kaulf., 1824. Polypodium elongatum (Sw.) Mett., Abh. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges. 2: 88, t. 2, f. 8, 9. 1857, hom. illeg., non Schrader, 1818, nec Aiton, 1879. Gymnogramma elongata (Sw.) Hook., Sp. Fil. 5: 157. 1864. Polypodium lanceolatum L. var. elongatum (Sw.) Krug, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 24: 131. 1897. Type. Jamaica. Swartz s.n. (S).

Grammitis revoluta Spreng. ex Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 5(1): 139. 1810. Pleopeltis revoluta (Spreng. ex Willd.) A. R. Sm., Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ser. 4, 40: 230. 1975, non Pleopeltis revoluta Alderw., 1909. Type. Not stated, received from Sprengel (B-Herb. Willd. 19584, microfiche UC!).

Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Hgo (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but not verified). Mich (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but not verified). Qro (Gonza´lez P. 224, IEB, QMEX, cited by Di´az-Barriga & Palacios-Rios, 1992, and Arregui´n et al., 2001, but not verified). SLP (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but not verified). Yuc (Lundell 1161, F, cited by Lorea-Herna´ndez in Davidse et al., 1995, but this collection is from Campeche). Among its simple-bladed congeners, P. astrolepis is distinct in its elongate sori, very short stipes, and small, comose rhizome scales. Specimens from the Pacific slope tend to be slightly longer (mostly 11–15 cm) than those on the Atlantic slope (where fronds are 8–10 cm), but the differences are not taxonomically significant. Pleopeltis xsordidula (Maxon & Weath.) Mickel & Beitel (Amer. Fern J. 77: 21. 1987), based on Polypodium sordidulum Maxon & Weath. in Weatherby (Amer. Fern J. 17: 92. 1927. Type. Mexico. Veracruz: near Cordoba, Spence 114, GH!; isotype US!) is the putative hybrid between P. astrolepis and P. fallax, and is intermediate in several morphological characters between the putative parents (Fig. 228N; Mickel & Beitel, 1987). The filiform, rather sparsely scaly rhizomes bearing small, densely comose scales point to P. fallax as one parent. This hybrid is known only from Veracruz, as an epiphyte on coffee trees in montane forests, 900–1400 m: Ver (Copeland herb. 149, MEXU, MICH, NY, UC, US; Fisher s.n., DS; Fisher 37, US). Spence 111 (US), from the same locality as the type, is probably another Pleopeltis hybrid, of uncertain parentage, but between a simple-bladed and a deeply pinnatifid species. The blades are lobed, with about 12 pairs of segments, the midribs darkened, and the laminar scales strongly fimbriate.

Distribution

Epiphytic, or epipetric at lower elevations; 0– 1850 m. USA (Fla); Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan; Gr & L Ant; Col, Ven, Trin, Sur, Fr Gui, Peru, Braz, Bol. Also cited from the Guianas and Ecuador by Lorea- Hernández (in Davidse et al., 1995).

Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Belize Central America| Honduras Central America| El Salvador Central America| Nicaragua Central America| Costa Rica South America| Panama Central America| West Indies| Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Peru South America| Brazil South America| Bolivia South America|