Hypolepis scandens M.Kessler & A.R.Sm., Brittonia

Schwartsburd, Pedro B., Navarrete, Hugo, Smith, Alan R. & Kessler, Michael, 2017, Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XXVI. Dennstaedtiaceae, Phytotaxa 332 (3), pp. 251-268 : 260

Hypolepis scandens M.Kessler & A.R.Sm., Brittonia 59(2): 193, fig. 3c. 2007.

Range:— Endemic to Bolivia (CO, LP).

Ecology:— Uncommon; terrestrial, scandent in disturbed humid forests; 1700–2500 m.

Notes:— Hypolepis scandens is somewhat similar to Hypolepis parallelogramma in having spiny petioles and rachises and indument composed especially of trichomidia. It differs from H. parallelogramma by petioles and rachises with longer spines (0.3–3 vs. 0.2–0.6 mm long), inequilateral proximal pinnae (vs. equilateral), laminar tissue between the veins abaxially with trichomidia (vs. glabrous), and pseudo-indusia proximally greenish, distally hyaline (vs. stramineous).

A somewhat similar species that may occur in Bolivia is Hypolepis stuebelii Hieron. , from the Greater Antilles, Venezuela, and Colombia to Peru. It is characterized by spiny petioles and rachises, hirsute laminar axes, hirsute laminar tissue between the veins abaxially, and ciliate pseudo-indusia ( Schwartsburd & Prado 2016). The hirsute laminar axes and laminar tissue between veins distinguishes this species from H. scandens , which has trichomidia in such parts.

The name “ Hypolepis acuminata M.Kessler & A.R.Sm. ” on some paratypes is unpublished. A specimen from LP (Nor Yungas, Cantón Pacollo, Portugal et al. 350, LPB, UC) may possibly be a juvenile Hypolepis scandens , or a hybrid between that species and another unknown species. It is also similar to H. melanochlaena A.R.Sm. , from Mexico and Venezuela ( Mickel & Smith 2004), and to a specimen from Ecuador (Holm-Nielsen et al. 6249, K).