Meniscium delicatum R.S.Fern. & Salino,

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 : 20

16.2. Meniscium delicatum R.S.Fern. & Salino, Phytotaxa 273(3): 176 (2016). Fig. 5g

Plants terrestrial. Stem short-creeping, glabrous. Fronds 38–90.5 cm long, monomorphic, pinnate; petiole 16.1–42 cm long, slightly paleaceous to pale brown, sulcate adaxially, glabrous; rachis paleaceous to pale brown, sulcate adaxially, with sparse glandular hairs; laminae 20.5–48.5 × (10–) 19–23.5 cm, ovate; pinnae median 7.7–20 × 1.6–2.5 cm, 3–7 pairs, linear-lanceolate, slightly falcate, petiolulate, membranaceous, abaxially with two kinds of hairs, glandular and sparse acicular, present on the costae, veins, and laminar tissue between the veins, margins undulate to crenate, base rounded, apex acuminate; veins anastomosed, 6–8 areoles between the costa and the margin of the pinnae. Sori round to oblong-arcuate, with acicular hairs on the sporangium receptacle; indusia absent.

Examined material: Barreiras do PiauÍ, PNNRP, Cachoeira do Urubu , 10°11’45’’S, 45°47’48’’W, 470 m, 14.XII.2022, P. H. Castro-Aguiar et al. 97 ( CCAA); P. H. Castro-Aguiar et al. 104 ( CCAA); P. H. Castro-Aguiar et al. 106 ( CCAA); P. H. Castro-Aguiar et al. 109 ( CCAA, UB).

Meniscium delicatum is endemic to Brazil and is recorded in the states of Amazonas, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Maranhão, and PiauÍ in the Amazon, Caatinga , and Cerrado biomes ( Fernandes & Salino 2020). In the study area it was found growing with pendulous fronds in humid and shady arenitic rock formations, on the cliffs of the Cachoeira do Urubu.

Characterized by the membranaceous laminae, with the base of the pinnae median and rounded distals, short petiolated, with 6–8 areoles between the costae and the margin of the pinnae, and the sporangium receptacle with acicular hairs.

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).