Asplenium rutaceum (Willd.) Mett.

  • Authority

    Morton, Conrad V. & Lellinger, David B. 1966. The Polypodiaceae subfamily Asplenioideae in Venezuela. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 15: 1-49.

  • Family

    Aspleniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Asplenium rutaceum (Willd.) Mett.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Rhizome erect, epiphytic; fronds fasciculate, numerous, mostly 20-35 cm long and up to 10 cm broad, the stipes dark purple, shining, very short, usually only 1-2 cm long; blades mostly narrowly lanceolate, subtripinnate, delicate in texture, dark opaque-green, abruptly running out at apex into a filiform, flagelliform leafless apex up to 8 cm long, this with a proliferous bud at the tip, gradually and strongly reduced at base, the basal pinnae very small; pinnae numerous, mostly 20-30 pairs, horizontally spreading, essentially sessile, oblong, mostly 3-4.5 cm long and 8-11 mm broad, the larger often terminating in a threadlike, short segment with a dormant bud at the tip; pinnules 6-9 pairs, the superior basal one overlapping the rhachis, the basal ones with a free superior basal secondary pinnule and usually with one or two other nearly free pinnules; ultimate pinnules or segments spathulate or obovate, mostly 3-4 mm long, 1.5-2 mm broad near apex, narrowly cuneate at base, apiculate, entire, beneath provided on the surface and veins with minute, ferruginous, appressed hairs, these less than 0.25 mm long, composed of 2-4 cells; veins simple and solitary in the ultimate segments.

  • Discussion

    Aspidium rutaceum Willd. in L. Sp. PI. ed. 4, 5: 266. 1810. Type: Plunder, Tract Fil. Amer. t. 57.1805. The plate represents a plant of Hispaniola, a fair representation of the species usually identified as A. rutaceum since the time of Mettenius, although it lacks the characteristic flagelliform apex. It is identified chiefly on the basis that it is the only Hispaniola fern that does resemble the illustration.

    Asplenium willdenowii Jenman, Gard. Chron. Ill, 19: 8. 1896. Type: Jamaica, Jenman (not seen), non A. willdenowii A. Braun, 1864. Cf. also Jenman, Ferns Brit. W. Ind. & Guiana 171. 1907.

    Asplenium perkinsii Jenman, Gard. Chron. Ill, 19: 8. 1896. Type: Kaieteur Falls, British Guiana, H. I. Perkins (holotype NY). Maxon & Morton recognized this as a valid species in the treatment of the ferns of Tafelberg, but it appears now that it cannot readily be distinguished. Cf. also Jenman, Ferns Brit. W. Ind. & Guiana 171.1907.

    Two collections from the Sierra de la Macarena, Colombia (Philipson & Idrobo 1861 and Idrobo & Schultes 911) may represent A. funckii Fee (Mem. Foug. 8: 84. 1857), which was published very casually in a note, and based on Funck 655 from Colombia. They appear to differ in having delicate, light rather than dark green fronds, with somewhat larger segments, and the proliferous apex is very short, less than 1 cm long.