Salpichlaena

Salpichlaena View in CoL

Salpichlaena J.Sm.(1841) 168. — Type: Salpichlaena volubilis (Kaulf.) J.Sm. (1841) 168.

Terrestrial. Rhizome long-creeping, dorsiventral, 0.3–0.8 cm diam; scales 2–5(–9) mm long, brown to black, usually with a lighter margin. Fronds almost monomorphic to strongly dimorphic, with twining rachises, up to 15 m long. Petioles abaxially terete, adaxially sulcated with one omega-shaped vascular bundle, glabrous, with catenate hairs and yellowish to brown scales. Laminae entire in juveniles, 1- (or 2-)pinnate in non-climbing and 2-pinnate in climbing fronds. Pinnae subopposite to opposite; herbaceous to coriaceous, margin cartilaginous to not cartilaginous, catenate hairs of 2 or 3 cells on abaxial side of the lamina, mostly on the veins; axes glabrous, sparsely hairy or scaly, veins parallel, simple or once-forked. Pinnules subopposite to opposite (alternate), fertile ones generally narrower than sterile, lanceolate, elliptic to oblanceolate, petiolulate to sessile or winged; apex acuminate, attenuate, caudate, cuspidate or cuneate, with entire, crenate or serrate margin, base round to attenuate. Sori linear at both sides of the costule covered by a firm dark-brown indusium that opens towards the costa, paraphyses absent. Spores monolete, ellipsoid-reniform with vesicules on the surface, monolete, 0.7–1 µm; n = 40 (Walker 1973; count from Trinidad).

IDENTIFICATION KEY TO SPECIES

1. Fertile pinnae almost without lamina; apices of sterile pinnae/pinnules serrate; pinnae/pinnules elliptic; laminar buds common in climbing fronds at the pinna bases.......................................... 1. S. hookeriana

1. Fertile pinnae with lamina; apices of sterile pinnae/pinnules entire, crenate or serrate; if serrate, pinne/pinnules lanceolate; laminar buds in climbing fronds absent or very rare 2

2. Apices of sterile pinnae/pinnules obviously serrate; costal scales broad and shapeless, like crumpled paper, or ovate with or without small appendices..........3. S. papyrus

2. Apices of sterile pinnae/pinnules entire, crenate to slightly serrate; costal scales lanceolate or ovate, always with long appendices................................... 3

3. Sterile pinnae/pinnules broadly elliptic to oblanceolate, herbaceous, margin sometimes slightly cartilaginous........................................... 2. S. hybrida

3. Sterile pinnae/pinnules of variable shape; if broadly elliptic, then chartaceous-coriaceous with clearly cartilaginous margin, if lanceolate, then herbaceous-chartaceous with only slightly or not at all cartilaginous margin....4. S. volubilis