Salpichlaena hybrida Lehtonen, G.G.Cárdenas

Cárdenas, G. G., Lehtonen, S. & Tuomisto, H., 2019, Taxonomy and evolutionary history of the neotropical fern genus Salpichlaena (Blechnaceae), Blumea 64 (1), pp. 1-22 : 10-11

2. Salpichlaena hybrida Lehtonen, G.G.Cárdenas & Tuomis- to, sp. nov. — Fig. 3b, 6; Map1

Intermediate between S. hookeriana and S. volubilis subsp. amazonica . Dif- fers from the former by lack of foliar buds,presence of laminar tissue in fertile pinnae and larger pinnae in the non-climbing fronds;and from the latter by the herbaceous texture of the lamina and thin rather than cartilaginous pinna/pinnule margin. — Type: Christenhusz, M.J.M., Bollendorff, S.M., Maas, P.J.M. & Maas-van de Kamer, H. 2460 (holo TUR (mounted on three sheets: 576477, 576478, 576479); iso CAY, NY, U), French Guiana, Commune Montsinéry- Tonnégrande, Bagne des Annamites,km 15 along Route Départementale 5, near Rivière de Tonnégrande, N4°48' W52°29', 21 Feb. 2003.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the postulated hybrid origin of the species.

Climbing and non-climbing fronds with herbaceous lamina texture,pinnae and pinnule margins not cartilaginous (to slightly cartilaginous); scales on abaxial axes lanceolate with long appen- dices sometimes divided and bifurcate, some stick-like scales formed by a long apical row of cells and usually two shorter basal lateral cells; stomata rarely on white laminal protuberances. Non-climbing 1-pinnate fronds 62–151 cm. Pinnae up to 4 pairs; apical one elliptic (oblanceolate), 22.6–46 by 6.4–8 cm; lateral ones oblanceolate, 22.7–35 by 6–7.2 cm; apex acuminate (caudate), with entire (slightly serrate) margin; base obtuse, acute. Climbing fronds with dimorphic pinnae. Pinnules opposite to subopposite. Fertile pinnules in up to 6 pairs; apical one elliptic, lanceolate, slightly oblanceolate, 20 by 4.1 cm, apex caudate, entire, base acute, oblique up to 0.1 cm; lateral ones elliptic (oblanceolate), 19.5 by 4.1 cm, apex caudate, entire, base obtuse, slightly oblique. Sterile pinnules in 2 – 4 pairs; apical one elliptic, slightly oblanceolate,13–20 by 3.8–6.6 cm, apex acuminate (caudate), entire to slightly serrate, base acute, slightly oblique; lateral ones oblanceolate, 9.5–15.8 by 2.9 cm, apex acuminate, caudate, entire, base obtuse, equilateral to oblique; petiolulate, rarely sessile or winged.

Distribution — Salpichlaena hybrida occurs in northern Brazil (Roraima), French Guiana and Suriname.

Habitat & Ecology — Terra firme rain forest, on white sand and poorly drained soil, close to creeks and paths. Altitude 0– 130 m.

Additional specimens seen (paratypes). BRAZIL, Roraima, Rorainópolis , about 5 km W along a side road starting at km 120–130 ( RR) of the Manaus - Boa Vista road, N0°13' W60°29', 80–130 m, 18 Feb. 2008, Tuomisto H et al. 15787 ( TUR) . – FRENCH GUIANA, Cayenne, road N2 from Régina to Saint-Georges de l’Oyapock ,km 127, N4°9' W52°6', 70 m, 29 Oct.2013, Lehtonen S & Geniez C 1073 ( CAY, TUR) ; environs du lieu-dit ‘ Roche-bateau’, sur la Crique Nouvelle-France, 11 Mar. 1976, Raynal A & Tirel C 18572 (P). – SURINAME, Brokopondo, Brownsberg Nature Park, Mazaroni vallen,waterfalls on very steep slope of at least 60°, N4°56' W55°12', 400–500 m, 6 Mar. 2003, Christenhusz MJM & Bollendorff SM 2581 ( TUR) .

Notes — The climbing sterile pinnae are elliptic and similar in appearance to those of S. hookeriana , but the pinnule apices are entire instead of serrate. Non-climbing fronds are similar to those of S. volubilis subsp. amazonica in having large pinnae, but in S. hybrida they have herbaceous texture and lack the cartilaginous margin. Salpichlaena hybrida can be differentiated from S. papyrus by the entire pinnule apices and by the scales similar to those in S. hookeriana in contrast to the scales of S. papyrus resembling crumpled paper. Salpichlaena hybrida differs from S. volubilis subsp. volubilis by shorter and broader pinnules, and from S. volubilis subsp. crenata by shorter pinnules and by thinner lamina texture.

We did not have physical access to fertile specimens of S. hybrida and the description of the fertile state is based on a few morphologically identified specimens seen as digital images. Hence, we do not have molecular support for the identification of the fertile specimens. Among the specimens seen, Raynal A & Tirel C 18572 (P01326148) can be considered most typical as it clearly shows mixed characters of the presumed parental taxa.