Sticherus nudus (Moritz) Nakai (1950: 23)

Gonzales, Jasivia & Kessler, Michael, 2011, A synopsis of the Neotropical species of Sticherus (Gleicheniaceae), with descriptions of nine new species, Phytotaxa 31, pp. 1-54 : 39

Sticherus nudus (Moritz) Nakai (1950: 23)

Mertensia nuda Moritz (in Reichardt 1859: 28, t 1, f 1–4).

Type:— VENEZUELA. Caracas , 1856, Moritz 452 (holotype W!) .

Distribution and ecology:— Andes in Colombia and Venezuela. It forms dense colonies in open habitats in montane forests, at 1600–2700 m.

Notes:— Sticherus nudus belongs to a group of four confusingly similar Mesoamerican and Andean species, including S. brevitomentosus , S. ovatus , and S. pteridellus . These all have ovate segments, nonpectinate proximal branches, approximate, usually flat segments, generally rather sparsely scaly branches, ovate-lanceolate to ovate scales that appear papyraceous and dull whitish to brown when dry, and finally, they also lack aphlebiae. Among these species, S. nudus is characterized by abaxially protruding ultimate branches, 1 st branches longer than the 2 nd ones, arched branches, petioles and rachises much thicker than the pinna branches, thick rhizomes with scattered, rigid scales, cartilaginous, undulate segment margins, abaxially glabrous segments with raised, parallel veinlets, sparse, reduced, mixed ovate and linear scales restricted to the midveins and sometimes around the inframedial sori, and ovate to rounded branch and bud scales with usually glandular apices. The arched branches are reminiscent of S. aurantiacus and S. tepuiensis , but these species are densely scaly, with narrowly lanceolate scales.