Polybotrya caudata Kunze

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Dryopteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Polybotrya caudata Kunze

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizomes densely clothed with brown, linear-lanceolate scales to ca. 1 cm x 1 mm, margins erose-denticulate; sterile fronds to ca. 1.3 m long, with stipes ca. 1/3 the blade length, to ca. 5 mm diam., scaly at stipe bases; sterile blades 2-pinnate-pinnatifid at base, 2-pinnate and ultimately pinnatifid distally; pinnae to ca. 35 x 12 cm, with pinnules lanceolate, truncate or cuneate at bases, more developed on acroscopic side, pinnules to ca. 8 x 2.5(–4) cm, larger ones lobed ca. 1/3 on acroscopic side, less on basiscopic side, lobes truncate at tip, ca. 5 mm wide; veins pinnate in ultimate segments, free, proximal pairs from adjacent segments meeting margins at the sinuses; laminae hairy on rachises, costae, and costules abaxially and in adaxial grooves, hairs hyaline, acicular, patent to ca. 0.15 mm; fertile blades 2-pinnatepinnatifid, pinnules long-caudate, to ca. 10 cm x 2–3 mm.

  • Discussion

    Olfersia caudata (Kunze) Kunze, Linnaea 21: 206. 1848. Type. Peru. [Hua´nuco:] Pampayaco, Poeppig s.n. (LZ, destroyed; isotype B). Polybotrya villosula Christ, Bull. Herb. Boissier, se´r. 2, 6: 168. 1906. Type. Costa Rica. Santa Clara, Las Delicias, Pittier 10688 (P?). For additional synonymy, see Moran (1987).

    Polybotrya caudata is readily distinguished from P. polybotryoides by having 2-pinnate-pinnatifid sterile blades, free veins, and usually hairy axes abaxially.