Salpichlaena volubilis subsp. thalassica, (Grayum & R. C. Moran) G. G. Cardenas & Tuomisto

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 : 17-18

d. subsp. thalassica (Grayum & R.C. Moran) G.G.Cárdenas & Tuomisto , comb & stat. nov. — Fig. 3f , 4e, 11; Map 1

Salpichlaena thalassica Grayum & R.C.Moran (in Moran 1990) 591, 593. — Type: Grayum & Chazdon 6833 (holotype MO; isotype CR), Costa Rica, Heredia, forest between Río Peje and Río Sardinalito, Atlantic slope of Volcán Barva , N10°17' W84°4.5', 800–1000 m, 7 Apr. 1986.

Etymology. The name refers to the bluish green colour of the fronds observed in the field.

Climbing and non-climbing fronds with chartaceous, herbaceous, coriaceous lamina texture, pinnae and pinnule margins cartilaginous; scales on abaxial axes stick-like formed by a long apical row of cells and usually two lateral smaller rows of cells and sometimes lanceolate scales with long appendices; stomata on white laminal protuberances. Non-climbing entire fronds up to 45 by 5 cm. Non-climbing 1-pinnate fronds 66–128 cm. Pinnae up to 4 pairs; apical one elliptic, lanceolate, 25–42 by 5.3–6.3 cm; lateral ones elliptic, parallel-sided, 18–32.2 by 3.7–5.5 cm; apex acuminate, attenuate, with entire margin; base obtuse. Climbing fronds with pinnules subopposite to opposite (alternate). Fertile pinnules in 1–5 pairs; apical one elliptic, lanceolate, parallel-sided, 18.2–30.2 by 1.1–3.1 cm, apex acuminate, attenuate (falcate), entire (slightly serrate), base cuneate, obtuse, acute, equilateral to strongly oblique; lateral ones elliptic (lanceolate, parallel-sided, falcate), 13.2–27.9 by 0.9–2.65 cm, apex acuminate, attenuate, or sometimes with a round, divided or fan-shaped tip caused by the apical division of the main vein, entire or with few small teeth (sometimes serration-like) on the cartilaginous border, base acute, obtuse, slightly oblique. Sterile pinnules in 1– 6 pairs; apical one elliptic, lanceolate, (parallel-sided), 23–34.4 by 2.2–7.7 cm, apex acuminate, attenuate (cuspidate), entire, slightly serrate, base acute (lobate) equilateral to strongly oblique; lateral ones elliptic (lanceolate, parallel-sided), 17.3–27.7 by 2.4–6.9 cm; apex acuminate, attenuate (cuspidate, cuneate), entire or with few small teeth (sometimes serration-like) on the cartilaginous border; base obtuse, acute, entire to oblique; petiolulate, sessile (winged).

Distribution — Salpichlaena volubilis subsp. thalassica occurs in Central America and on the western side of the Andes in northeastern South America; Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama.

Habitat & Ecology — Near stream valleys. On hills, mid-slope and flat terrain. Altitude 25–2400 m.

Additional specimens seen. COLOMBIA, Chocó, area of Baudó, on left bank of Rio Baudo , about 1.5 km upstream of stuary, 11 Feb.–28 Mar. 1967, Fuchs HP & Zanella L 21894 ( AAU, K, USM); Magdalena, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Cerro Ratón, serranía de San Javier, N10°53' W74°01', 1900 m, 5 Aug. 1972, Forero E & Kirkbride Jr H 672 ( MO, US); Nariño, Ricáurte , 1300 m, 18 May 1941, Von Sneidern K A. 603 ( AAU, MO); Valle, Cordillera Occidental, vertiente occidental:hoya del río Anchicayá , quebrada del Danubio , 300–350 m, 20 Dec.1942, Cuatrecasas J 13726 ( US). – COSTA RICA, Heredia, Braulio Carrillo National Park , N10°20' W84°10', 1215 m, 13 Nov. 1986, Hennipman E et al. 6893 (Z); San José, Tapantí, a lo largo del sendero Quebrada Segunta , 9 Apr. 1986, Berrocal J & Sánchez J 122 ( CR); Mts 5 miles S of Cartago, 1800 m, 12 May 1906, Maxon WR 512 ( US). – ECUADOR, Carchi, Maldonado , 1500 m, 8 Oct. 1981, Werling L & Leth-Nissen S 428A, 428B ( AAU); Esmeraldas, Playa Grande, ± 2 km SE San Francisco de Cayapas, along Rio Cayapas , 16 Aug. 1967, Sparre B 18058 (P); Pichincha, Reserva Forestal ENDESA, Río Silanche, ‘ Corporación Forestal Juan Manuel Durini’ , km 113 de la carretera Quito-Pto.Quito , faldas occidentales, N0°05' W79°02', 650–700 m, 17 Aug. 1984, Jaramillo J 7016 ( AAU). – NICARAGUA, Zelaya, cerro La Pimiena N13°44'40" W84°59'55", 1000–1200 m, 14 Apr. 1979, Grijalva A 346 ( CR); Cerro el Hormiguero, W range, N13°44' W85°00', 1100–1183 m, Pipoly J 5182 ( MO). – PANAMA, Colón, Santa Rita , STRI tree plot 32, N9°21' W79°44', 400 m, 20 Oct. 2005, Tuomisto H et al. 15141 ( PMA, TUR); Sierra Llorona , N9°21' W79°44', 285 m, 5 Mar. 2008, Jones M & Mitre D 881 ( TUR); Panama, Cerro Campana National Park , N8°41' W79°56', 850–900 m, 25 Oct. 2005, Tuomisto H & Aguilar 15159 ( PMA, TUR); Las Pavas , N9°08' W79°54', 87 m, 19 May 2008, Jones M 1110 ( TUR); PN Soberanía, N9°10' W79°45', 215 m, 23 Jan. 2008, Jones M et al. 650 ( TUR); PN Soberanía, N9°10' W79°45', 90 m, 15 Feb. 2008, Jones M et al. 804 ( TUR).

Notes — Salpichlaena volubilis subsp. thalassica shares with subsp. amazonica the chartaceous-coriaceous texture, cartilaginous margin, and the entire pinnule apices, which sometimes can have a few small teeth. However, the appearance of the abaxial lamina sets subsp. thalassica apart from subsp. amazonica . In subsp. thalassica , the stomata are usually located on the top of small whitish laminal protuberances, which can be so conspicuous that they are visible to the naked eye as small white spots on the abaxial side of the lamina. In contrast, the epidermal surface of subsp. amazonica generally lacks the white protuberances altogether, but sometimes they may irregularly occur close to the lamina borders. Subsp. thalassica differs from subsp. volubilis and subsp. crenata by the presence of cartilaginous pinna margin and thicker lamina texture.

The paratype Hampshire & Whitefoord 370 (BM) does not belong to S. volubilis subsp. thalassica but instead represents S. papyrus .

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.