Cheilanthes ecuadorensis Windham & K.Sosa, 2021

Cheilanthes ecuadorensis Windham & K.Sosa View in CoL , sp. nov. TYPE: ECUADOR. Loja: 10–15 km W of Malacatos on gravel roads, surroundings of Rio Catamayo   GoogleMaps , 04 13'S, 79 18'W, 8 May 2001, J.E.Madsen & O.A. Sanchez 7940 (holotype: AAU!; isotype: MO!).

Most similar to C.pilosa but differing in its reduced number of spores per sporangium (32 vs. 64), much narrower (0–0.13 vs. 0.3–0.8 mm) false indusia, brown (vs. dark brown) rhizome scales, and shorter (mostly less than 0.5 mm) blade surface trichomes.

Plants rupestral. Stems ascending, compact, to 10 mm in diameter including dense covering of persistent petiole bases, scaly. Stem scales linear-lanceolate, mostly ca. 1 3 0.2 mm, brown, thin, chartaceous, margins entire, apices attenuate, ending in dark glandular tip. Leaves 6 monomorphic, the small sterile leaves of immature plants eventually completely replaced by fertile leaves 8–26 cm. Petioles ca. 1/4 of leaf length, with 1 vascular bundle, dark brown to dark reddish brown, terete to slightly flattened adaxially, non-abraded surfaces pubescent throughout with. 25 trichomes per mm 2, trichomes spreading 0.1–1.0 mm, with prominent 2–6-celled stalk and enlarged, spherical, glandular cell at apex, distinctly viscid when fresh, scaly proximally, the scales linear-lanceolate, to 3 3 0.7 mm, brown, thin, chartaceous, margins entire, apices long attenuate, ending in dark glandular tip. Fertile blades narrowly triangular to lanceolate, 2–3-pinnate-pinnatifid proximally, 3–5 cm at widest point. Rachises dark reddish brown proximally, green distally, flattened to very slightly grooved adaxially, with trichomes like those of the petioles throughout. Pinnae 8–12 per fertile leaf, alternate to subopposite, the proximal with dark reddish brown stalks 3–9 mm, broadly triangular to ovate, the largest 15–40 3 10–25 mm, pubescent with trichomes similar to those of petioles but often at lower density (. 10 per mm 2) and shorter (mostly 0.1–0.6 mm abaxially and 0.1–0.4 mm adaxially). Ultimate segments oblong-ovate, mostly 5–10 3 3–5 mm, usually broadly attached to subtending costae (rarely short stalked), margins shallowly to deeply 5–11- lobed, usually not recurved but occasionally slightly cupped around distal side of sori, with very narrow (, 0.1 mm), pale green to hyaline edges bearing glandular trichomes similar to those of adaxial pinna surfaces. Veins mostly obscure, segment midveins mostly with 5–11 alternately-branched secondary veins, these 1–4-forked, not anastomosing, terminating before reaching segment margins. Sori solitary on marginal lobes, consisting of 1–8 sporangia attached to enlarged vein tips in close proximity (ca. 0.1 mm) to apex of marginal lobes, discontinuous but occasionally appearing confluent with age, 10–50 per ultimate segment. False indusia 0–0.13 mm wide, scarcely differentiated, most sporangia exposed throughout development. Sporangia containing 32 spores, the stalk multicellular,, 0.1 mm, annulus 18–21-celled. Spores trilete, averaging 48–52 M m in diameter, dark brown, the perispore prominently cristate. Chromosome number n 5 30.See Figs.2 View FIG and 4 View FIG for illustrations and images of sporophyte features and Fig.5 View FIG for image of meiotic chromosome squash.

Distribution and Habitat — Cheilanthes ecuadorensis is known from two localities, both in the eastern portion of Loja Province in southern Ecuador ( Fig. 6 View FIG ). It occurs on dry or exposed slopes, usually in rock fissures, in association with Acacia , Furcraea , and cacti.

Etymology —The specific epithet refers to this species’ native range located, to the best of our knowledge, exclusively in Ecuador.

Additional Specimens Examined — Ecuador. — LOJA: Valley of Catamayo, S of the village, at Algarrobera, 1350–1450m, 19 May 1988, B.Ollgaard, J.E. Madsen, & L. Christensen 74251 (AAU).