Ptisana odontosora (Christ) Senterre & Rouhan, 2014

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 : 71

Ptisana odontosora (Christ) Senterre & Rouhan , comb.nov.

Marattia odontosora Christ (1909: 19) . Lectotype (designated by Pichi Sermolli 1969: 343):— GUINEA. Tolo, 23 December 1905, O. Caille 15629 ( P-00507743 ! , isolectotypes P-00507741 ! , P-00507742 ! )

This species is clearly morphologically distinct as demonstrated by Pichi Sermolli (1969), but the name has been mostly misapplied, due to the inclusion of two species in the cited material of the original description. Ptisana odontosora is characterized by ascending, curved veins (not oblique and straight as in most Ptisana species ), distal pinnules with their base strongly decurrent on the secondary rachises, and synangia very close to the margin, almost within the teeth. Its ecology is also unusual, found in marshes outside the Guineo-Congolian region where Ptisana sp. A occurs and with which this species has often been confused. The apex of the pinnules is variable but sometimes abruptly caudate acuminate, which suggest a possible affinity with other taxa from mainland Africa.

Distribution: —This species is known only from the type locality in Fouta Djallon, a highland region in the centre of Guinea.