Megalastrum brevipubens R.C.Moran, J.Prado & Labiak

  • Family

    Dryopteridaceae (Pteridophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Megalastrum brevipubens R.C.Moran, J.Prado & Labiak

  • Primary Citation

    Amer. Fern J. 99: 11-12, Figs. 2B, 7F, 11F–K. 2009

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Holotype -- T. Rojas 10802

    Specimen 2: Isotype -- T. Rojas 10802

  • Description

    by: R.C. Moran, J. Prado, and P.H. Labiak

    Type: Paraguay. Amambay: Sierra de Amambay [ca. 23º00'S, 58º00'W, 300 m], Sep 1907, Hassler 10802 (holotype: NY; isotypes: K, MICH).

    Description: Leaves ca. 1.0 m long; scales of petiole bases ca. 2 × 0.15 cm, linear to lanceolate, sparsely denticulate, light brown to yellowish or golden, twisted or crispate, en masse forming a dense wool; laminae ca. 75 cm long, to 3-pinnate-pinnatifid at base, 2-pinnate medially; basal pinnae ca. 30-50 cm long, stalks to 2 cm long, strongly inequilateral, pinnules acroscopically slightly reduced toward the base of pinna; pinna rachises abaxially non-glandular, glabrous or nearly so, with a few (usually at pinna base) scales, these 2.5 mm long, linear, denticulate, adaxially densely pubescent, non-glandular, hairs 0.1-0.3 mm long, 1-4-celled; costules abaxially non-glandular, pubescent to lacking hairs, sparsely scaly, hairs 0.2-0.4 mm long, 2-4-celled, scales 1-2 mm long, filiform to narrowly lanceolate, non-bullate, adaxially pubescent, hairs 0.1-0.6 mm long, 3-5-celled; laminar tissue between veins abaxially non-glandular, puberulent, hairs ca. 1 mm, 1-celled, erect to substrigose, sometimes with sparse uniseriate scales, these ca. 0.2 mm long, appressed, brown, glabrous adaxially; veins adaxially pubescent, visible, abaxially pubescent, hairs 0.2-0.3 mm long, 1-3-celled, with sparse uniseriate, filiform scales, these ca. 0.2 mm long, appressed, brown; lamina margins non-glandular, sparsely ciliate, hairs ca. 0.1-0.2 mm long, 1(2)-celled; indusia absent.

    Distribution: Brazil, E Paraguay; [200-300 m].

    Comments: Megalastrum brevipubens is distinctive by the short (ca. 0.1-0.2 mm long), erect, acicular hairs between the veins on the abaxial surfaces of the laminae. It resembles M. connexum, a species that is glabrous between the veins abaxially.

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.