Pleopeltis trindadensis (Brade) Salino (2009: 107)

Souza, Filipe Soares De & Salino, Alexandre, 2021, Pleopeltis (Polypodiaceae) in Brazil, Phytotaxa 512 (4), pp. 213-256 : 253

18. Pleopeltis trindadensis (Brade) Salino (2009: 107) . Figs. 14J–Q , 15I , 20F . Polypodium trindadense Brade (1936: 4) . Type:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Ilha da Trindade, Campos Porto 585 (holotype: RB!, isotype: F)

Plants epipetric or terrestrial. Rhizomes short-creeping, with scales lanceolate, brown, base rounded with a brown to blackish point of attachment, apex acuminate and margin light brown and incised to laciniate; fronds monomorphic, 30–60 × 4–8 cm; petiolate, petiole angulate, 10–20 cm long, without wings, densely scaly; laminae 20–40 cm long pinnatisect, linear-lanceolate, base truncate, apex acute; rachises angulate, densely scaly; pinnae 18–37 pairs, medial pinnae 1.7–4 × 0.4–0.6 cm, linear, base adnate to the rachises, auricle present, hydathodes present, apex acute to obtuse, margin entire, densely scaly on both surfaces; venation anastomosing; frond scales with base rounded and long-acuminate to the filiform apex, brown, base with a dark brown point of attachment, margin brown and incise to laciniate; sori rounded, medial, covered by scales; spores verrucate to papillate with sparse globules.

Selected specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Ilha de Trindade , 24 October 2011, V.A.O. Dittrich 1739 ( CESJ); idem, 25 January 1992, J.M.L. Gomes 1735 ( VIES) .

Distribution and habitat: —Endemic to Trindade Island ( Fig. 16B ), in the State of Espírito Santo, where it occurs in rock outcrops.

Notes: —This species can be recognized by its dense, brown scales with base rounded and long-acuminate to the filiform apex on all parts of the lamina, long petiole, and abruptly reduced lamina base.

This species is categorized as Critically Endangered (CR) because it occupies an area of less than 10 km ² (MMA 2014). Pleopeltis trindadensis is known only of a few collections from Trindade Island.

Figures

FIGURE 14. A–I. Pleopeltis stolzei. A. Habit; B. Rhizome scale; C. Petiole scale; D. Adaxial rachis scale; E. Abaxial rachis scale; F–G. Adaxial laminar scale; H–I. Abaxial laminar scale. J–Q. P. trindadensis. J. Habit; K. Rhizome scale; L. Petiole scale; M. Adaxial rachis scale; N. Abaxial rachis scale; O. Adaxial laminar scale; P. Abaxial laminar scale; Q. Sorus scale.

FIGURE 15. Spores of nine species of Pleopeltis from Brazil. A. P. lepidopteris; B. P. macrocarpa; C. P. minarum; D. P. minima; E. P. monoides; F. P. pleopeltidis; G. P. pleopeltifolia; H. P. stolzei; I. P. trindadensis. Scale bar = 20 mm

FIGURE 16. Distribution of two species of Pleopeltis in Brazil. A. P. stolzei; B. P. trindadensis.

FIGURE 20. Laminar scales of eight species of Pleopeltis from Brazil. A. P. alborufula, abaxial scale; B. P. burchelii, abaxial scale; C–D. P. minima, abaxial scales; E. P. bombycina, abaxial scale; F. P. trindadensis, abaxial scale; G. P. hirsutissima, abaxial scale; H. P. lepidopteris, abaxial scale; I. P. minarum, abaxial scale; J. P. bombycina, adaxial scale; K. P. lepidopteris, adaxial scale; L. P. minarum, adaxial scale; M–N. P. alborufula, adaxial scales.