Pleopeltis astrolepis (Liebm.) E.Fourn.
Descripción
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, 0.8–1mm long, 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.A
Forma de vida
o epipétrica. EpífitaA
Ejemplar revisado
Camp (Lundell 1161, US). Chis (Conrad & Conrad 2994, MO, UC). Col (Sanders 11715, UC). Gro (Lorea 4608, FCME). Jal (Mexia 1495, CAS, DS, IEB, UC). Nay (Breedlove 44322, CAS). Oax (Martínez C. 375, DS, UC). Tab (Rovirosa 618, US). Ver (Copeland herb. 148, 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 (González P. 224, IEB, QMEX, cited by Díaz-Barriga & Palacios-Rios, 1992, and Arreguín et al., 2001, but not verified). SLP (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but not verified). Yuc (Lundell 1161, F, cited by Lorea-Hernández in Davidse et al., 1995, but this collection is from Campeche).
A
Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Hgo (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but not verified). Mich (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but not verified). Qro (González P. 224, IEB, QMEX, cited by Díaz-Barriga & Palacios-Rios, 1992, and Arreguín et al., 2001, but not verified). SLP (reported by Mickel & Beitel, 1988, but not verified). Yuc (Lundell 1161, F, cited by Lorea-Hernández in Davidse et al., 1995, but this collection is from Campeche).
A
Elevación
0 – 1850 mA
Ecología y Hábitat
At lower elevations.A
Categoría IUCN
No incluidaB
Categoría NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010
No incluidaC
Discusión taxonómica
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.
A
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.
A