Elaphoglossum barbatum (H.Karst.) Hieron., Bot. Jahrb. Syst.

Kessler, Michael, Moran, Robbin C., Mickel, John T., Matos, Fernando B. & Smith, Alan R., 2018, Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XXXV. Dryopteridaceae, Phytotaxa 353 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

Elaphoglossum barbatum (H.Karst.) Hieron., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 34(4): 553. 1904. ( Fig. 16A–K )

= E. erinaceum (Fée) T.Moore var. boliviensis Rosenst., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 476. 1913.

= E. cordifolium Rosenst., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 25: 62. 1928.

= E. lindbergii Rosenst. var. truncatum Rosenst., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 25: 63. 1928.

= E. truncatum Rosenst., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 25: 63. 1928.

Range: —Reported from Mexico to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia ( CH, CO, LP, TA, SC); range uncertain due to the taxonomic complexity of this group.

Ecology: —Fairly common; epiphytic, saxicolous, and terrestrial in humid forests, mostly growing rather low on trees; 900–3400 m.

Notes: —The types of E. barbatum ( Colombia), E. cordifolium ( Bolivia), and E. truncatum ( Bolivia) are quite distinct from each other. The main difference among them is the shape of sterile leaves, particularly the blade bases, which are broadly cuneate in E. barbatum , truncate in E. truncatum , and strongly cordate in E. cordifolium . In Bolivia, however, there is a complete series of transitional forms between these types. The presence of subulate scales on the abaxial laminar surfaces, as seen on the types of E. barbatum , is also variable. Buchtien 5167 ( US), for example, has truncate blades like the type of E. truncatum and scaly laminar surfaces like those of E. barbatum . Because there are numerous intermediate specimens and as the characters vary independently, we here adopt the older name and treat all specimens in one broadly defined species.

Some specimens grade into E. hybridum , but that species has narrower, darker rhizome scales, usually cuneate blade bases, and leaves that are generally smaller with more slender petioles and stems. Some intermediate specimens are also difficult to distinguish from E. erinaceum (type from the Antilles). Further studies using modern molecular tools at the population level may show that E. barbatum represents more than one species.

Buchtien 5166 and 7042 are syntypes of two simultaneously published legitimate names (i.e., E. lindbergii var. truncatum and E. truncatum ). Elaphoglossum cordifolium and E. truncatum have equal priority ( McNeill et al. 2012, Art. 11.5), and this must be considered if populations from Bolivia are not conspecific with the earlier E. barbatum .

Figures

FIGURE 16. A–K. Elaphoglossum barbatum (A–E from Williams 1031, NY, and Buchtien 7042, US; F–K from Clark 6607, NY). A. Habit. B. Sterile frond. C. Rhizome scale. D. Blade margin. E. Rachis. F. Habit. G. Sterile blade. H. Rhizome scale. J. Blade margin. K. Rachis.—Scale bars for habit = 5 cm, all other scale bars = 1 mm.