Ptisana sp. B

Senterre, Bruno, Rouhan, Germinal, Fabre, Isabelle, Morel, Charles & Christenhusz, Maarten J. M., 2014, Revision of the fern family Marattiaceae in the Seychelles with two new species and a discussion of the African Ptisana fraxinea complex., Phytotaxa 158 (1), pp. 57-75 : 72

Ptisana sp. B

Synonym:— Marattia fraxinea auct. non Sm., sensu Tardieu-Blot (1964).

This undescribed species is widespread in submontane evergreen rain forests of Atlantic Central Africa, but is unlikely to reach West Africa (e.g. Liberia and or Côte d’Ivoire as stated by Tardieu-Blot 1964), where we think that it has been confused with Ptisana sp. A .

Ptisana sp. B is one of the smallest Ptisana of the region, with petioles up to 60 cm, and sessile pinnules with the apices abruptly caudate to acuminate. It differs from Ptisana robusta and Ptisana sp. A by its smaller habit and by its shortly oblong pinnules (less than three times longer than wide).

Representative specimens examined: — EQUATORIAL GUINEA. R. Pérez Viso 2665 (MA-748717!). CAMEROON. F. Breteler 2500 (P-01365197!). GABON. E. Bidault 572 (MO!).

Distribution: — This species is found in Equatorial Guinea ( Velayos et al. 2008: 313), Gabon and Cameroon ( Tardieu-Blot 1964, as Marattia fraxinea ).