Salpichlaena volubilis subsp. crenata, 2019

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 : 16-17

c. subsp. crenata G.G.Cárdenas & Tuomisto , subsp. nov. — Fig. 3e , 10; Map 1

Distinguished from all other Salpichlaena taxa by the crenate to slightly dentate-serrate apices of the sterile pinnules.

— Type: Christenhusz MJM & Katzer F 3988 (holotype TUR (mounted on two sheets 581127, 581128); isotypes NY 02007148 , 02730089 , P P01419530 ), Guadeloupe, Basse Terre , comm. Saint-Rose , Sofaïa , route forestier de Sofaïa , Trace de Baille-Argent-Sofaïa , down to the crossing with Rivière Moustique , N16°17' W61°44', 460 m, 8 Mar. 2005.

Etymology. The infraspecific epithet refers to the crenate pinnule apices.

Climbing and non-climbing fronds with chartaceous, herbaceous (coriaceous) lamina texture, pinnae and pinnule margins slightly cartilaginous to cartilaginous; scales on abaxial axes lanceolate with long appendices, some scales stick-like with a long apical row of cells and usually two smaller lateral cells; stomata rarely on white laminal protuberances. Non-climbing entire fronds up to 35 by 3.8 cm. Non-climbing 1-pinnate fronds 65–91 cm. Pinnae up to 3 pairs; apical one lanceolate (elliptic), 22.5–40.7 by 3.9–5.5 cm; lateral ones lanceolate, elliptic, 18.5–29.5 by 3.9–4.4 cm; apex attenuate, with entire, crenate margin; base acute, obtuse. Climbing fronds with pinnules subopposite (opposite, alternate). Fertile pinnules in 1– 5 pairs; apical one elliptic, parallel-sided, lanceolate, 17.7–33.2 by 1.8–3.3 cm, apex caudate, acuminate, slightly serrate, entire margin, base acute, slightly oblique; lateral ones lanceolate, parallel-sided, slightly oblanceolate, 10–26 by 1.2–2.9 cm, apex slightly caudate, acuminate, attenuate with slightly crenate or slightly serrate margin, sometimes with a round or fan-shaped tip caused by the apical division of the main vein, base obtuse, cuneate, equilateral to slightly oblique. Sterile pinnules in 1– 5 pairs; apical one lanceolate, elliptic, (parallel-sided), 16–28.8 by 2.2–6.5 cm, apex acuminate, caudate, attenuate, slightly crenate, slightly serrate, sometimes with a round or fan-shaped tip caused by the apical division of the main vein, base acute, obtuse, cuneate (lobate), oblique; lateral ones lanceolate, elliptic (parallel-sided, falcate), 9–26.3 by 1.8–4.7 cm; apex attenuate, slightly crenate, slightly serrate, base acute, obtuse, equilateral to oblique; petiolulate (sessile or winged).

Distribution — Salpichlaena volubilis subsp. crenata occurs in the Lesser Antilles and in the northern part of South America, in Brazil, Dominica, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Guyana, Martinique, Santa Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Habitat & Ecology — Terra firme primary rain forest, subtropical and transitional cloud forests. Along paths and along steep creekbanks. In hills and flat terrain. On clay and sandy soil. Altitude 70–1123 m.

Additional specimens seen (paratypes). BRAZIL, Amapá, Rivière Haut Jari , N54°46' W2°28', 400 m, 17 Aug. 1993, de Granville JJ et al. 12339 ( CAY, Z); Amazonas, Presidente Figueiredo, Reserva Biológica Uatumã , close to the easternmost point of the lake , S1°45' W59°19', 90–140 m, 6 Feb.2008, Tuomisto H et al. 15651 ( TUR). – DOMINICA, rainforest bordering Imperial Road , Sylvania to Mahaut River , 549 m, 13 and 23 Aug. 1938, Hodge WH 98 ( NY, US); Syndicate Estate, north-west slopes of Morne Diablotins , 10 Oct.1983, Whitefoord C & Eddy A 3965 ( US). – FRENCH GUIANA, Cayenne , Réserve Naturelle des Nouragues , camp Inselberg , white quartz sand derived from the inselberg,along a small creek, N4°5' W52°40', 200 m, 5 Oct. 2013, Lehtonen S et al. 813 ( CAY, TUR); road N2 from Régina to Saint-Georges de I’Oyapock , km 159, N4°00' W51°57', 70 m, 23 Oct. 2013, Lehtonen S & Geniez C 985 ( CAY, TUR); Montagne Cacao, SE de Cayenne , Cremers 7819 ( CAY, P, Z). – GUADELOUPE, Basse Terre, Capesterre-Belle-Eau , Grand-Étang , along D4 road from St.Sauveur to Chutes du Carbet , N16°2' W61°37', 400 m, 30 Mar. 2003, Christenhusz MJM & Bollendorff S 2729 ( TUR); Sainte-Rose, Source Sulfureuse de Sofaïa , along the trail down to Saut des Trois Cornes , steep slopes with creek gullies , N16°18' W61°43', 400 m, 2 Apr. 2003, Christenhusz MJM & Paajanen MT 2756 ( TUR). – GUYANA, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Waukauyengtipu , slope, N5°49'30" W61°11'40", 1300 m, 10 July 1997, Clarke HD et al. 5530 ( CAY, US); Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Acarai Mts , Kashinar Mt , summit and surrounding slopes, N1°17' W58°39', 825–975 m, 2 Mar. 1994, Henkel TW et al. 4903 ( CAY, US). – MARTINIQUE , 1886, Père Duss 1700 ( NY). – SANTA LUCIA, forest between Quilesse and head of Murray Hill road , Apr. 22–May 18 1950, Howard RA 11691 ( P); Morne Lacombe at 1200’, Aug. 1934, Box HE 419 ( US). – SURINAME, Brokopondo, Brownsberg Nature Park , steep slope on lateritic soil along path leading to Leoval , N4°57' W55°11', 400–500 m, 5 Mar. 2003, Christenhusz MJM & Bollendorff S 2553 ( TUR); Brownsberg Nature Park, Koemboeval , N4°56' W55°11', 400–500 m, 8 Mar.2003, Christenhusz MJM & Bollendorff S 2627 ( TUR). – TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, Tobago, road from Parlatuvier to Roxborough , near Gilpin Trace , 500 m, 28 Dec. 2002, Kessler M 12906 ( TUR); Trinidad , Arima valley ,north range, Forestry Trail , 600 m, 24 Mar. 1959, Cowan RS & Simmonds NW 1202 ( P, US). – VENEZUELA, Vargas, cordillera de la Costa , serranía del litoral , Monumento Natural Pico Codazzi, Carretera Arco de la Colonia Tovar-Pto. Cruz , 2.5 km desde el Arco, SE del centro turístico Villa Bahareque , N10°26' W67°13.5', 1850–1950 m, 15 Aug. 1999, Mostacero J & Castillo R 259 ( US) .

Note — Most specimens of S. volubilis subsp. crenata differ from all the other subspecies by the crenate to slightly dentate-serrate apices on sterile pinnules. When only slightly serrate (or practically entire), subsp. crenata may be confused with subsp. amazonica or subsp. thalassica , but the serrations in the latter two are, when present, merely small teeth in the cartilaginous border and they do not cut into the lamina, as they do in subsp. crenata . Fertile pinnules of subsp. crenata may have entire apices, and then they can be confused with fertile pinnae of the other subspecies of S. volubilis .

Figures

Map 1 Distribution of Salpichlaena hookeriana (Kuntze) Alston (■), S. hybrida Lehtonen, G.G.Cárdenas & Tuomisto (▲), S. papyrus G.G.Cárdenas, Tuomisto & Lehtonen (●), S. volubilis (Kaulf.) J.Sm. subsp. volubilis (◆), S. volubilis subsp. amazonica G.G.Cárdenas & Tuomisto (◆), S. volubilis subsp.crenata G.G.Cárdenas & Tuomisto (), S. volubilis subsp.thalassica (Grayum & R.C. Moran) G.G.Cárdenas & Tuomisto (◆).

Fig. 3 Sterile pinnule apices of Salpichlaena. a. S. hookeriana; b. S. hybrida; c. S. papyrus; d. S. volubilis subsp. amazonica; e. S. volubilis subsp. crenata; f. S. volubilis subsp. thalassica; g. S. volubilis subsp. volubilis (a. Tuomisto 12785; b. Christenhusz 2460 3/3; c. Jones 165; d. Tuomisto 16550; e. Christenhusz 2729; f. Tuomisto 15144; g. Christenhusz 4950 2/4; all TUR). — Scale bar: 1 cm.