Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link

Castro-Aguiar, Pedro Henrique, Fernandes, Rozijane Santos & Zappi, Daniela Cristina, 2025, Ferns of the Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba Brazilian Cerrado, Rodriguesia (e 00612024) 76, pp. 1-24 : 18

14.1. Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link , Handb. Gewachse 3: 20 (1833). Fig. 5b

Plants terrestrial. Stem ascending to short-creeping, with lanceolate scales, 2.5–5 mm long, pale brown. Fronds 73–119.5 cm long, monomorphic, 1- or 2-pinnate-pinnatifid (rarely 3-pinnate-pinnatifid), erect; petiole 30.5–53.5 cm long, dark brown to black, glabrous, sulcate adaxially, with scales similar to those on the stem at the base; rachis similar to the petiole; laminae 42.5–66 cm long, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate; rachis similar to the petiole, pinnae 3.4–14.7 cm long, 13–32 pairs, pinnules lanceolate, chartaceous, with a whitish farinaceous wax abaxially, margins entire to coarsely denticulate, base cuneate, apex acute. Sori linear along the veins; indusia absent.

Examined material: MARANHÃO: Alto ParnaÍba, PNNRP, Povoado Curupá, 09°53’05’’S, 45°53’20’’W, 380 m, 19.IV.2022, P. H. C. Aguiar et al. 13 ( CCAA); próxima a casa de serraria na Fazenda do Merval , 09°49’22’’S, 46°16’14’’W, 373 m, 19.VII.2023, P. H. Castro-Aguiar et al. 320 ( CCAA, UB). PIAUÍ:Barreiras do PiauÍ, PNNRP, Brejo do Curicaca , 10°00’26’’S, 45°35’52’’W, 446 m, 21.IV.2022, P. H. C. Aguiar et al. 47 ( CCAA); Cabeceira do Curicaca , 10°00’25’’S, 45°35’50’’W, 457 m, 16.XII.2022, P. H. Castro-Aguiar et al. 244 ( CCAA, UB).

Pityrogramma calomelanos is widely distributed in the Neotropical region, occurring from the south of the United States (Florida) to Argentina (Kessler et al. 2017; Prado et al. 2017). In Brazil, it is found in all states and biomes ( Prado & Hirai 2023b). In the study area, it was recorded in various environments, occurring on the inside and margins of the vereda, in the gallery forest, and disturbed areas.

The species is characterized by the 1- or 2-pinnate-pinnatifid (rarely 3-pinnate-pinnatifid) fronds, pinnules ascendant and by the sori along the veins. In the study area the specimens have leaves abaxially farinaceous white.

Figures

Figure 5 – a. Cheilanthes pohliana – habit. b. Pityrogramma calomelanos – habit. c-d. Christella hispidula – c. habit; d. sori on the abaxial surface. e-f. Meniscium arborescens – e. habit; f. sori on the abaxial surface. g. Meniscium delicatum – habit. h-i. Meniscium maxonianum – h. habit; i. sori on the abaxial surface. (a. P.H. Castro-Aguiar et al. 283; b. P.H. Castro-Aguiar et al. 244; c-d. P.H.C. Aguiar et al. 12; e-f. P.H.C. Aguiar et al. 6; g. P.H. Castro-Aguiar et al. 97; h-i. P.H. Castro-Aguiar et al. 166).