Crepidomanes pyxidiferum

Kessler, Michael & Smith, Alan R., 2017, Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. X. Hymenophyllaceae, Phytotaxa 328 (3), pp. 201-226 : 204

Crepidomanes pyxidiferum (L.) Dubuisson & Ebihara, Acta Bot. Gallica 160: 186. 2013.

= Trichomanes pyxidiferum L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1098. 1753.

= Polyphlebium pyxidiferum (L.) Ebihara & Dubuisson, Acta Bot. Gallica Bot. Lett. 160(2): 186. 2013.

Range: —Greater Antilles; central Mexico to Bolivia (LP) and southern Brazil and northern Argentina ( Arana et al. 2016, Ponce et al. 2017); Africa.

Ecology: —Rare, known from a single collection in Bolivia; epiphytic in humid forests; 450 m.

Notes: — Crepidomanes pyxidiferum is often thought to be related to, or misidentified as, certain Polyphlebium spp. , namely P. borbonicum , P. diaphanum , and P. hymenophylloides , but molecular studies by Dubuisson et al. (2013) indicate that it is the sole species of Crepidomanes in the Neotropics. Ebihara et al. (2006) initially placed it in Polyphlebium , but it differs from that in the denser, darker rhizoids on the rhizomes and the ultimate segments of dried fronds are rolled or folded lengthwise; these folds have been interpreted by some as false veins (e.g., Morton 1968), similar to those in Didymoglossum , but they are not. Many Old World species of Crepidomanes , but not C. pyxidiferum , have the marginal row of cells of the blades more elongate, more translucent, or otherwise modified, compared to cells back from the margins. The involucres (sori) are shorter (not so tubular, more obconic, only about 1–1.5 times as long as broad). Specimens of C. pyxidiferum appear to have rhizomes and petiole bases with dense blackish hairs, contrasting with Polyphlebium species in Bolivia, which bear brownish, less dense hairs; the green wings on petioles also bear similar, blackish rhizoids.