Ten New Species and Two New Combinations of Blechnum (Blechnaceae, Pteridophyta) from Bolivia

2007·10 MB·English

by  Michael Kessler

American Fern Journal 97(2):66-80 (2007)
New Two New
Ten and
Combinations
Species of
Blechnum
from
(Blechnaceae, Pteridophyta) Bolivia
Michael Kessler
Albrecht-von-Haller-Institut fur Pflanzenwissenschaften, Abteilung Systematische Botanik,
fiir
Germany
Untere Karspiile Gottingen,
2, D-'A7i)7'A
Alan
Smith
R.
University Herbarium, 100 Valley Life Sciences Hlclg., ~!M(ifi, University of California, Berkeley,
1
CA
94720-2465
Marcus
Lehnert
Albrecht-von-Haller-Institut fur Pflanzenwissenschaften, Abteilung Systematische Botanik,
fiir
Germany
Untere Karspiile D-37073 Gottingen,
2,
—
We
new Blechnum
Abstract. describe ten species of (Blechnaceae, Pteridophyta) from Bolivia
and provide a key to the Bolivian species of the genus. The new species are: B. bicolor, B.
bolivianum, B. bruneum, B. cochabambense, B. pazense, B. reflexum, B. repcns, B. smilodon, B.
squamatum, and Blechnum and squamipes
B. vallegrandense. gracilipes B. are elevated to species
rank.
Blechnum
150-200
(Blechnaceae) has about recognized species but
is still
taxonomically very incompletely known, especially the Andes. During our
in
we
studies of the genus for a forthcoming guide to the ferns of Bolivia, have
unnamed
encountered
ten species that are here described.
named
Most
of the species here belong Parablechnum
to sect. (C. Presl) T.
Moore, one of the morphologically most distinctive species groups
in
Blechnum.
This section characterized by dimorphic usually
leaves, erect
is
or suberect rhizomes, ovate ovate-lanceolate rhizome and base
to petiole
scales, these bicolorous or concolorous and one cell thick near their apices,
and chromosome number =
base x Parablechnum
a of 28. Section also
is
highly supported in molecular studies and perhaps should be treated as
genus The
a distinct (Cranfill, 2001). distinctiveness of the section contrasts
with the difficulty in distinguishing the included species. This partly due to
is
monographic
the lack of studies on the section and partly the result of poorly
lefined species boundaries and possible hybridization.
(
—
Blechnum
bicolor M. Kessler et A.R. Sm., sp. nov. TYPE. Bolivia. La Paz:
Prov. Nor Yungas, Unduavi, 3400 m, November Buchtien 2690
1910,
A-C.
(holotype: UC).
Fig.
1,
Species ex grege Parahlechnuo rhizomatibus brevibus squamis
erect
is,
rhizomatum
bicoloris cellulorum elongatorum translucentiumque, squamis
marginarum
costalibus bicoloribus, pinnis coriaceis parce reflexarum.
cm
rhizomes
Terrestrial; stout, erect, ca. 3 in diameter including petiole
mm,
6-10 X brown
bases, scales 1-2.2 lanceolate, translucent, reddish
to
BLECHNUM
KESSLER ET BOLIVIA
AL.: IN 67
,v
an
•
a..it* '.
?
i
i\
Blechnum
Fig. 1. bicolor. A. Habit, B. Median pinnae, C. Rhizome scale. Blechnum bolivianum:
D. Habit, E. Median pinnae, F. Rhizome scale. Blechnum pazense: G. Habit, H. Median pinna,
I.
Rhizome Blechnum
scale. cochabambense: Habit, K. Median pinnae, L. Rhizome scale, M. Costal
J.
scale. Blechnum squamatum: N. Habit, O. Median pinnae, P. Rhizome scale, Q. Costal scale. The
drawings of habit, pinnae, and scales, respectively, are to the same scale for species.
all
VOLUME NUMUMR
AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL:
97 (2007)
68 2
margins
with narrow, sharply defined pale margins, elongate,
blackish cells
mm
cm
X and
entire; sterile leaves to 90 15 cm, erect; petioles to 45 long 3
reddish brown stramineous, moderately scaly (but scales
thick, to distally
rhizomes soon grading
often abraded), scales basally similar to those of the but
mm,
X
two one 2-10 0.2-2
into a mixture of types of smaller, paler scales,
spreading, translucent, yellowish brown, entire or sparsely
lanceolate,
mm,
X
denticulate, the other 0.1-0.8 0.1-0.7 roughly ovate, appressed,
yellowish brown, ciliate; sterile laminae broadly lanceolate, 1 -pinnate with
an abruptly reduced base and gradually reduced apex with a conform apical
pinnae 15-28 X cm, oriented roughly 90° the
pinna; ca. pairs, to 9 1 at to
rachises or slightly ascending, the longest pinnae located in the proximal third
90%
laminae, the lowermost pinnae ca as long as the longest ones,
of the
mm), acuminate, margins narrowly
pinnae petiolulate (0.5-2 falcate, apices
hyaline, finely serrulate, reddish brown with slightly paler marginal areas;
laminar chartaceous, drying similar pale olive green on both
tissue rigidly to a
on
adaxially glabrous, abaxially with scattered, tiny scales the veins, the
sides,
mm,
scales 0.05-0.2 X 0.05 X 0.2 arachnoid, appressed, pale brown; veins
immersed on both ending small
simple or 1-forked, slightly sides, in
lmi
mm
3-5 wide; limited the central part of the pinnae, lacking in the
sori to i.e.,
mm
mm;
proximal 5-10 and the distal 10-20 indusia dark, entire to erose at
ma
—
Comunidad Pampa
Cochabamba: Ayopaya, Grande,
Paratytls. Bolivia. Prov.
Achira Pampa Grande, zona de pastoreo, 16°40'S, 66°28'W, 2130 m, 09
enlre
y
November Jimenez 1552 (GOET, LPB, UG). La Paz: Prov. Tamayo, PN-
2002, F.
ANM1
Madidi, senda Keara-Mojos, abajo de Ghunkani, 14 38'S, 68°57'W,
2910 m, 11 August 2001, Jimenez 942 (LPB); Prov. Nor Yungas, Estacion
campo Don
Biologica de Tunquini, Bajo Hornuni, senda del de Pedro al
4479
camino de mina, 16 67 53'W, 2300 m, 25 2000, Garcia
12'S, July
la
(GOET, LPB, UG); Prov. Nor Yungas, camino desde Unduavia a Chulumani,
16 67 52'W, 3150 m, 22 December 1991, Schmit 168 (LPB, UG); same
18'S,
general 3115 m, 24 December 1991, Schmit 170 pp (LPB).
locality,
The and rhizome
epithet alludes the bicolorous costal scales.
to
This species forms a natural group with B. bolivianum and B. pazense, all of
new
which Only lew have enough
described the years
are here. in last
collections been made allow the evaluation of the variability within the
to
As
species and the consistency of the differentiating characters. a group, they
which
cordatum
are perhaps most closely related to B. (Desv.) Hieron., is
a much larger species with paler, larger, concolorous rhizome scales.
Blechnum cordatum and probably comprises species
highly variable a
is
A
complex needed understand
complex. study the
detailed of this to
is
impressive radiation has undergone in the Bolivian Andes.
it
Blechnum bicolor similar to B. pazense in having bicolorous costal scales
is
and thick-textured pinnae with slightly revolute margins, but differs
relatively
by having elongate rhizomes, bicolorous rhizome scales with translucent
less
BLECHNVM
KESSLER ET BOLIVIA
AL.: IN 69
and and
cells, stramineous costae rachises. also similar to B. bolivianum,
It is
but the latter has concolorous costal scales, darker rhizome scales with shorter,
occluded and thinner-textured
leaves.
cells,
m
On
up
the type, Buchtien indicated that this species has a trunk to 1 tall,
but probably due confusion with one both two trunk-forming
this to or of
is
species of Blechnum, namely B. loxense (Kunth) Hook, ex Salomon and B.
duration (Fee) R. M. Tryon & Stolze, that co-occur with B. bicolor the type
at
None
of the additional specimens seen and no related species of
locality.
Parablechnum have The was by Morton
trunks. type studied C. V. in the
tall
On
late 1960s. a note attached to the specimen he wrote that he was unable to
name
specimen.
the
common
Blechnum humid montane 2300-
bicolor fairly in forests at
is
m
A
3400 in Cotapata National Park, Bolivia. specimen [Jimenez 1552) from
km
may
Cochabamba, about 140 east of the type locality also belong with this
rhizome and
species, but the costal scales are less clearly bicolorous.
—
Blechnum bolivianum M. TYPE. La
Kessler A.R. Sm., nov.
et sp. Bolivia.
Paz: Prov. Nor Yungas, Estacion Biologica de Tunquini, senda cafetal (cerca
del campamento de Don Pedro) camino de mina, 16°12'S, 67 53'W,
al la
2500 m, March Bach 1332 UC; GOET,
8 2001, (holotype: isotypes: LPB).
D-F.
Fig.
1,
Blechno cordato Hieron. squamis rhizomatis atrobrunneis
Differt a (Desv.)
cellulorum occlusorum, pinnibus angustioribus tenuioribusque, rhachidibus
cum
squamis
densiore
vestitis.
cm
rhizomes diameter including
Terrestrial; stout, erect, ca. 5 in petiole
mm,
bases, scales 4-6 x 1.2-2.5 ovate-lanceolate, dark brown to blackish with
brown
narrow, pale margins, small, mostly occluded, margins
cells elliptical,
unknown;
with few
entire, erose or a distinct teeth; fertile leaves sterile leaves
mm
cm
to 120 X 26 cm, erect; petioles to 60 long and 4 thick, reddish brown to
distally stramineous, moderately scaly (but scales often abraded), scales
basally similar to those of the rhizomes but these soon grading into a mixture of
mm,
x
two types of smaller, paler scales, one 1.5-4 0.5-1.2 ovate to ovate-
brown,
lanceolate, spreading to appressed, dull pale finely denticulate, the
mm,
X
brown,
other 0.3-1 0.2-0.8 ovate, dense, appressed, dull pale
ciliate;
laminae narrowly 1-pinnate with rather abruptly reduced base
sterile deltate, a
and gradually reduced apex with a conform apical pinna; pinnae ca. 25—30
cm mm,
X 80-90°
pairs, to 14 16 oriented at to the rachises, the longest pinnae
85%
located in the proximal 1/3 of the laminae, the proximal pinnae as
ca.
mm),
long as the longest ones, pinnae petiolulate (1-2 slightly curved forward,
apices long-acuminate, margins narrowly hyaline, finely serrulate, very
brown
slightly revolute; aerophores tuberculiform; rachises reddish to
stramineous, adaxially grooved, moderately scaly, scales similar to those of
brown
petioles but slightly smaller; costae reddish to stramineous, adaxially
grooved, glabrous, abaxially densely scaly, the scales appressed to the laminae,
mm,
0.5-1.2 X 0.3—0.8 ovate-lanceolate, denticulate, pale brown; laminar
AMERICAN VOLUME NUMBER
KERN JOURNAL:
70 07
2 (2007)
cm
1
ii
E
E
ii
i
^
-
_t
.
E
CN
E
E
ate
Blechnum Median Blechnum
Fig. 2. reflexum: A. Habit, pinnae, C. Proximal petiole scale.
13.
Median Rhizome Blechnum
vallagrandense: D. Habit, K. pinnae, I\ scale. repens: Habit, H.
(].
Median pinna, Rhizome scale. Blechnum bruneum: Habit, K. Rhizome scale, L. Petiole scale.
I.
J.
Blvchnum smilodon: M. Habit, N. Median pinnae, O. Rachis scale. The drawings of habit, pinnae,
and same upper two and lower
scales, respectively, are to the scale for the three species.
BLECHNUM
KESSLER ET BOLIVIA
AL.: IN
71
tissue chartaceous, drying to a similar pale olive green on both sides, adaxially
with on
glabrous, abaxially scattered, tiny scales the veins, the scales 0.05-0.2
mm,
X X
0.05 0.2 arachnoid, appressed, pale brown; veins simple or 1-forked,
immersed, and
adaxially slightly abaxially slightly raised slightly paler than
the laminar ending small hydathodes.
tissue, in
—
km
Cochabamba:
Paratypes. Bolivia. Prov. Carrasco, 10 desde Siberia
a Comarapa, 17 48'S, 64 42'W, 2600 m, 20 October 1996, Kessler 9166 (LPB,
UC). La Paz: Prov. Nor Yungas, Estacion Biologica de Tunquini, senda
cafetal,
camino de mina, 16°12'S, 67 53'W, 2400 m, 08 April 2001, Bach 1404
al la
(GOET, LPB); same general locality, 2400 m, 26 July 2000, Garcia 4459 (LPB).
new
This species perhaps most similar cordatum, but by
to B. differs
is
brown
having dark rhizome with occluded
scales narrower, thinner-
cells,
and more abundant
textured pinnae, rachis scales. also similar to B.
It is
more
pazense, but that species has longer, creeping rhizomes, paler reddish
brown, rhizome more
finely denticulate scales, narrower, lanceolate blade
and some
outlines, at least bicolorous costal scales.
common
Blechnum bolivianum humid montane
a fairly species in forests
is
m
2400-2600 in the departments of La Paz and Cochabamba. mostly
at
It
occurs lower elevations than
at B. bicolor.
—
Blechnum bruneum
M. & TYPE. La
Kessler A.R. Sm., sp. nov. Bolivia. Paz:
km
Prov. Bautista Saavedra, 12 de Charazani hacia Apolo, 15°11'S,
68 46'W, 2500 m, 1 July 1997, Kessler 10481 (holotype: UC; isotypes:
GOET,
LPB).
Fig.
2, J-L.
Blechnum
Differt a brasiliense Desv. squamis rhizomatis petiolorum
basaliumque latioribus brunneisque nigribus), petiolis longioribus (17-
(vs.
cm
2-12 squamorum
33 cm), presentia rhachidi.
vs.
mm,
Terrestrial; rhizomes erect, densely scaly, scales 15-24 X 1.5-2.5 linear
brown
to lanceolate, shiny, dull yellowish or with narrow dark red-brown
cm
unknown;
120
centers, entire; fertile leaves sterile leaves to ca. long, erect;
mm
cm
petioles 17-33 long and diameter, dark reddish brown, densely
to 7 in
rhizomes
scaly at bases, sparsely scale distally, scales similar to those of but
X
smaller; sterile laminae to ca. 90 30 cm, lanceolate, pinnatisect, basally 1-
cm mm,
X
pinnate, distally pinnatisect; sterile pinnae to ca. 60 pairs, to 15 16
oriented at ca. 80 to the rachises, the longest pinnae about midblade, proximal
cm
pinnae gradually reduced with the lowermost pair to 1.7 long, linear-
lanceolate, mostly broadly aclnate (except the basalmost pinnae), bases
somewhat
unequal, apices acute, margins cartilageneous, serrulate, not
revolute; aerophores absent; rachises dark reddish brown, grooved adaxially,
x
sparsely scaly, the scales similar to those of the petioles but smaller, to 8
mm;
on
0.7 costae stramineous, raised both sides, glabrous; laminar tissue
chartaceous, glabrous, drying olive green, slightly paler abaxially than
adaxially; veins mostly 1-forked, impressed adaxially, raised abaxially, ending
small hydathodes.
in
—
AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL: VOLUME NUMBER
72 97 2 (2007)
—
km
Cochabamba: desde
Paratypks. Bolivia. Prov. Carrasco, Siberia
7
Karahuasi, 17 48'S, 64 41'W, 2200 m, 16 October 1996, Kessler 9094 (GOET,
a
LPB); Prov. Chapare, Incachaca, 2200 m, 23 January 1929, Steinbach 8914
(UC).
This species has gradually reduced proximal pinnae as well as lanceolate,
brown rhizome and basal petiole scales (hence the species epipthet). In
laminar shape closely resembles B. brasiliense, but that species and close
its
it
Old World have narrower, mostly black rhizome
relatives entirely or scales.
Blechnum bruneum further differs from B. brasiliense by having longer
cm
petioles (17-33 2-12 cm] and by bearing scattered scales on the
vs.
swampy
rachises. Blechnum bruneum grows along streams and in places in
m
humid montane 2200-2500 and Blechnum
appears replace
forests to
at
brasiliense (up to 1600 m) at higher elevations in the Bolivian Andes.
Blechnum cochabambense M. & TYPE.
Kessler A.R. Sm., sp. nov. Bolivia.
Km
Cochabamba: Prov. Carrasco, 95-96 on old road between Cochabamba
and Villa Tunari, 17 12.64'S, 65 41.95'W, 3400 m, 24 October 1999, Stahl
AAU;
5156B BOLV, K-M.
(holotype: isotypes: Fig.
S). 1,
Species ex sectione Parablechno rhizomatibus squamas lanceolatas
erectis
mm
14-30 squamarum ium
integres, longas ferentibus, mixtura costal partim
ovatarum, spadicearum, ciliatarum, partim lanceolatarum, brunnearum,
integrium usque ad denticulatarum, pinnis coriaceis basal cordatis,
falcatis iter
venis adaxialiter immersis, squamis laminarum densis preastans.
satis
cm
rhizomes 3-4 diameter including
Terrestrial; erect, ca. in petiole bases,
mm,
scales 14-30 X 2-3 linear-lanceolate, reddish brown with narrow paler
X unknown;
margins, leaves 70 15 cm, arching, leaves
entire; to erect to fertile
mm
cm
and
petioles to 30 long 5 thick, shiny red-brown, densely scaly, scales
two one rhizomes
of types, similar to those of the but smaller, basally erose,
and deciduous except petiole base, the other appressed, ovate lanceolate,
at to
X mm,
1—3 0.3-1.5 dull pale brown, erose-denticulate; laminae lanceolate, 1-
p innate with a gradually reduced apex and an elongate apical segment; pinnae
cm mm,
21-28 pairs, to 9 X 11 oriented 90 to the rachis, the longest pinnae
nd
rd 80-90%
the or pair from the laminar base, proximal pinnae the length
2 3
mm),
of the longest pinnae, pinnae petiolulate (1-2 bases cordate,
falcate,
apices acuminate, margins narrowly hyaline, serrulate, revolute; rachises red-
brown stramineous, grooved, densely two one 1-3 X
to scaly, scales of types,
mm,
0.3-0.6 spreading, lanceolate, brown, entire to denticulate, the other 0.3-
mm,
X
0.2-0.8 loosely appressed, ovale, erose aerophores
tan, to ciliate; at
1
pinna bases tuberculiform, dark; costae adaxially stramineous, grooved,
moderately scaly, the scales similar to those of the rachis but smaller,
abaxially stramineous, densely scaly, the scales similar to the large rachis
scales; blades coriaceous, drying pale olive green, slightly paler abaxially,
mm,
X
adaxially sparsely scaly, the scales 0.1-0.7 0.1-0.5 loosely appressed,
X X
ovate, tan, erose to ciliate, abaxially sparsely scaly, the scales 0.1—1 0.05
mm,
0.5 loosely arranged, lanceolate, tan, ciliate; veins simple, adaxially
BLECHNUM
KESSLER
ET IN BOLIVIA
AL.:
73
immersed
and
in leaf tissue, abaxially slightly raised slightly paler than the
laminar ending small hydathodes.
tissue, in
—
km
Paratype. Bolivia. Cochabamba: Prov. Carrasco, Lope Mendoza, 110
May
camino
a Santa Cruz, 17°32'S, 65°22'W, 3110 m, 05 1995, Fernandez 521
(BOLV,
LPB).
This species belongs Parablechnum. recognized by
to sect. erect
It is its
mm
rhizomes with rhizome 14-30
bicolorous, lanceolate, entire scales long;
tan, denticulate costal scales, coriaceous, falcate, basally cordate pinnae with
adaxially sunken veins; and rather dense blade probably most
scales.
It is
cordatum
closely related to B. s. lat., but that has concolorous, tan, translucent
rhizome
whitish
scales, to pale tan, translucent, entire to erose costal scales,
and may
broader, thinner-textured pinnae. Other related species be
flat,
Blechnum
which
lima Rosenst., has similar coriaceous pinnae with sunken
much
veins, but denticulate and squamatum (which
larger, costal scales, B.
grows with cochabambense), which and
B. larger overall has broader,
is
much
thinner-textured pinnae and smaller rhizome
scales.
Blechnum cochabambense known humid
from two
collections
in
is
montane Weinmannia
with M. &
forests or Polylepis lanata (Kuntze) Kessler
m
Schmidt-Leb. 3100-3400 Cochabamba
at in a limited area of Dept. (hence
the species
epithet).
—
Blechnum pazense M. Kessler & A.R. Sm., sp. nov. TYPE. Bolivia. La Paz:
PN-ANMI
Tamayo,
Prov. Franz Madidi, sendero Keara-Mojos, hora
a
1
y
media aproximadamente de caminata desde Tokuaqe por senda
del
la
March
inciensal, 14 36'S, 68 57'W, 2490 m, 11 2001, Jimenez 752 (holotype:
UC;
isotype: LPB). Fig. G-I.
1,
Species ex sectione Parablechno rhizomatibus usque
elongatis, prostratis
ascendentibus, squamis rhizomatum uniforme
atrorufescentibus denticulatis-
mm
que, squamis costalibus fere longis partimque bicoloribus preastans.
1
cm
rhizomes 2-3
Terrestrial; elongate, creeping to suberect, ca. in diameter
mm,
5-8 X
including petiole bases, scales 1.2-2 lanceolate, dark reddish
brown, 175 X cm, and
denticulate; leaves to 21 erect to arching, fertile sterile
mm
cm
leaves similar; petioles to 100 long and 5 thick, dark reddish brown,
adaxially densely scaly, scales basally similar to those of the rhizomes but
mixed
distally with appressed, ovate lanceolate, dull pale brown,
to
mm;
X
denticulate scales 1-3.5 0.3-1 laminae lanceolate, 1-pinnate, each
cm X mm,
with a gradually reduced apex; pinnae ca. 40 pairs, to 11 12.5
75-90°
oriented at to the rachis, the longest pinnae medial, the proximal
85%
pinnae ca. as long as the longest ones, pinnae petiolulate (1-3 mm),
falcate, apices long-acuminate, margins hyaline, serrulate, slightly revolute;
aerophores tuberculiform; rachises adaxially dull brown, grooved, glabrous,
abaxially dark reddish brown atropurpureous, densely 1-3 X
to scaly, scales
mm,
0.3-1 appressed, ovate to lanceolate, pale brown, dull, denticulate; costae
adaxially stramineous, grooved, glabrous, abaxially atropurpureous, bearing
—
VOLUML NUMBER
AMERICAN
JOURNAL:
74 I'l-RN \)7 2 (2007)
mm,
X
dense scales, the scales appressed, 0.5-1 0.3-0.7 ovate, entire to
brown base bicolorous with dark
denticulate, pale to the of the costae)
(at
brown centers and whitish margins; laminar tissue chartaceous, drying pale
green on both adaxially glabrous, abaxially with scattered, tiny
olive sides,
mm,
X X
scales mostly on the veins, the scales 0.05-0.2 0.05 0.2 arachnoid,
some
appressed, pale brown; veins mostly 1-forked, simple, adaxially
immersed, abaxially slightly raised and slightly paler than the laminar tissue,
ending in small hydathodes; sori linear, continuous, parallel to the costae,
mm
leaving 2-4 of green laminar tissue between the sori and pinna margins,
mm
usually not reaching the pinna apex; indusia wide, translucent,
to 1
brown,
entire to slightly erose.
—
Paratypes. Bolivia. La Paz: Prov. Tamayo, Apolo, Pinalito, 14 31'S,
F.
Tamayo, PN-
68 16'W, 2200 m, 26 April 2003, Cnyola 365 (LPB); Prov.
F.
ANMI
media aproximadamente de
Madidi, sendero Keara-Mojos, hora
a y
1
caminata desde Tokuaqe por senda 14°36'S, 68 57'W, 2490 m,
inciensal,
la al
PN-ANMI
March Tamayo, Madidi,
11 2001, Jimenez 751 (LPB, UC); Prov. F.
senda Keara-Mojos, desde Tokuaqe, antes de llegar a Chunkani, 14 38'S,
68 57'W, 2830 m, 11 October 2001, Jimenez 1008 (GOET, LPB, UC); Prov. Nor
campo
Yungas, Estacion Biologica de Tunquini, Bajo Hornuni, senda del de
Dn
Pedro camino de mina, 16 67 53'W, 2400 m, 25 2000,
12'S, July
al la
4460
Garcia (LPB, UC).
This species belongs Parablechnum. recognized by elongate,
to sect. is its
It
creeping suberect rhizomes, uniformly dark reddish brown, denticulate
to
mm
rhizome scales, and partly bicolorous costal scales about 1 long. most
is
It
similar holivianum, which, however, has shorter, erect rhizomes, darker,
to B.
erose or spinulose rhizome scales, shorter and broader, basally more
(Mil ire,
abruptly reduced laminae, and concolorous costal scales.
common
Blechnum humid montane
pazense
fairly locally in forests at
is
m
2400-2850 Dept. La Paz, where co-occurs with B. bicolor and B.
in
it
holivianum.
Blechnum reflexum Rosenst. ex M. Kessler & A.R. Sm., nov. TYPE.
sp.
Km
Cochabamba: Cocha-
Bolivia. Prov. Carraseo, 104 antigua carretera
bamba-Villa Tunari, 17°11'S, 65 40'W, 3250 m, 25 June 1996, Kessler 6607a
UC; A-C.
(holotype: isotype: LPB). Fig.
2,
Unicum
Parablechno
sectione pinnis lateralibus ovato-lanceolatis
in
mm)
marginibusque
distincte petiolulatis (1-2 forte reilexis
cm
Terrestrial; rhizomes erect, ca. 1.5 in diameter including petiole bases,
scales probably similar to those on the petiole bases (but not discernable on the
cm
unknown;
small rhizomes available); fertile leaves sterile leaves to 33 long,
mm
cm
and
arched; petioles to 18 long 2.5 in diameter, slightly longer than the
laminae, dark reddish brown, densely scaly the bases with few similar but
at a
mm,
3-7 X
smaller scattered scales distally, the scales 0.6-2.2 lanceolate to
orangish
oblong-lanceolate, spreading, flaccid, translucent, not shiny, light
BLECHNUM
KESSLER ET BOLIVIA
IN 75
AL.:
X
brown, with dentate margins; laminae 15 cm, lanceolate, 1-
finely sterile to 5
pinnae
pinnate with a distinct, elongate apical pinna; sterile lateral to 15 pairs,
cm mm,
X
to 2.6 5.5 oriented at right angles to the rachis, strongly folded
towards the adaxial rachis, the longest pinnae about 1/3 from the base of the
60-70%
laminae, the proximal pinnae as long as the longest ones ovate-
ca.
mm
with unequal 1-2 apices rounded,
lanceolate, often bases, petiolules long,
and
margins strongly revolute; apical
slightly cartilaginous, paler, serrulate,
cm mm,
pinna each blade X triangular with an abruptly reduced,
of to 4.4 7
unequal base and acute apex; rachises dark reddish brown, grooved adaxially,
mm,
X
densely scaly, the scales 1.5-5 0.2-1.2 lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate,
brown, with
orangish
appressed spreading, translucent,
to slightly flaccid,
sunken and
dentate margins; costae pale brown, deeply adaxially
finely
on
strongly raised abaxially, moderately scaly, the scales similar to those
rachis but somewhat smaller and relatively broader; laminar tissue coriaceous,
brown
drying dark olive adaxially and paler abaxially, glabrous; veins mostly
impressed on both abaxially conspicuously
simple, rarely 1-forked, sides,
darker than the laminar tissue, ending in small hydathodes.
—
November
La Nor Yungas, Unduavi, 3300 m,
Paratype. Bolivia. Paz: Prov.
Buchtien 2681
1910, (UC).
This distinctive species was recognized by Rosenstock as undescribed and
now
annotated accordingly on the herbarium sheet at UC. However, Rosen-
known
stock never published To date from only two sterile collections.
it. it is
may
Therefore, the measurements given in the description not reflect the
we
Nevertheless, do not hesitate in describing
potential size of this species. it
new and
because has unique, petiolulate, ovate-lanceolate, strongly
as
it
reflexed pinnae (hence the species epithet) with strongly revolute
lateral
No known Parablechnum
has similarly reflexed
margins. other species of
Blechnum
pinnae. The pinnae are somewhat reminiscent of auratum, but that
and shiny rhizome and belongs
species has very different, long, falcate, scales
Lomariocycas Sm.) Morton.
V.
C.
to sect.
(J.
Blechnum and has been
reflexum apparently a rare local species that
is
3250-
found on rock faces in humid habitats around the present timberline at
m
Andean
3300 on the eastern slope in Bolivia.
M
hnum La
Paz:
renens Bolivia.
Nor Yungas, Estacion Biologica de Tunquini, Bajo Hornuni, senda del
Prov.
W
/
mm
Unicum 3-4
genere Blechno rhizomatibus gracilibus, nigribus,
in latis,
aximam
mm
3-4
Epiphytic; rhizomes long-creeping, thick, lustrous red-black,
mm,
moderately scaly, scales 4-5 X 0.8-1.4 linear to lanceolate, shiny,
orange- red-brown with slightly paler margins, margins subentire to
to
cm
unknown;
remotely denticulate; leaves sterile leaves to 75 long;
fertile