Elaphoglossum lindenii T.Moore, Index Fil.

Kessler, Michael, Smith, Alan R., Øllgaard, Benjamin, Matos, Fernando B. & Moran, Robbin C., 2023, Prodromus of a fern flora of Bolivia. XLII. Update I., Phytotaxa 630 (3), pp. 183-210 : 186

Elaphoglossum lindenii T.Moore, Index Fil. 360. 1862.

= Elaphoglossum pilosius Mickel, Brittonia 39: 324. 1987.

Range: — Mexico to Bolivia (CO, LP), Brazil, and Chile (including Juan Fernández Isl.); perhaps also Tristan da Cunha ( Matos & Mickel 2018).

Ecology: —Fairly common but local; saxicolous and terrestrial on rock faces, steep slopes, and road banks, in humid to semihumid habitats; 2900–4300 m.

Notes: — Mickel (1987) described Elaphoglossum pilosius Mickel , based on several specimens from Venezuela (Lara, Mérida, and Táchira), and that name was subsequently recognized in the floras of Peru ( Mickel 1991), Mesoamerica ( Mickel 1995), Mexico ( Mickel & Smith 2004), and Bolivia (Kessler et al. 2018). In the protologue of E. pilosius, Mickel (1987) commented that his new species “is close to E. lindenii and sometimes even grows with it”. A few years later, Mickel (1991) mentioned that “ E. pilosius appears to be distinct from E. lindenii on the basis of its greater pubescence and rounded to truncate lamina base, but more extensive population samples are needed to settle the matter”. The two species, as recognized by those authors, overlap in distribution and are highly variable in blade shape and scale abundance. After examining numerous specimens from throughout their geographic range, we have come to the conclusion that E. lindenii and E. pilosius are the same.