Sticherus simplex (Desv.) Ching (1940: 285)

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 : 47

Sticherus simplex (Desv.) Ching (1940: 285)

Mertensia simplex Desvaux (1827: 200 , t.91). Gleichenia simplex (Desv.) Hooker (1837 : t.92). Dicranopteris simplex (Desv.) Maxon (1922a: 50).

Type:— PERU. Collector unknown (holotype P, photo US).

Distribution and ecology:— High mountains of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is locally common in humid paramos and shrubby habitats at 2400–4000 m.

Notes:— A number of specimens from Venezuela (Mérida: Páramo de la Negra, above Cañada, 2800, 14 February 1939, Alston 7040, BM), Ecuador (Azuay: N of Paute, 13 April 1945, Camp 2589, AAU, NY; Cuenca: Baños, Yanasacha, 2925 m, 29 December 1976, Boeke 676, NY; Cuenca: Road Cuenca–Cajas, ca. Km 8, road to Bosque Protector Río Mazán, 3050–3150 m, Ulloa 473, AAU); Cuenca Llantera–Chiquintad– Saucay–Guandum, 3050 m, Jaramillo 1062, AAU) and Peru (Cajamarca: San Miguel, El Tingo, 2750 m, 20 June 1980, Sagástegui 9510, NY) appear to represent hybrids between S. simplex and S. revolutus . Such hybrids were first recognized by Østergaard & Øllgaard (2001). They are morphologically intermediate between S. simplex and S. revolutus and also have partly malformed spores. Morphological characters they share with S. simplex are the segment length and shape, cell texture of the abaxial branch and bud scales, whereas they are similar to S. revolutus by having 1– or 2-forked pinnae and the hairlike scales on the adaxial branches. The midvein scales are a mixture of stellate scales (as in S. simplex ), arachnoid scales, and linear scales (as in S. revolutus ).