Pleopeltis astrolepis (Liebm.) Fournier (1872: 87)

Souza, Filipe Soares De & Salino, Alexandre, 2021, Pleopeltis (Polypodiaceae) in Brazil, Phytotaxa 512 (4), pp. 213-256 : 217-222

2. Pleopeltis astrolepis (Liebm.) Fournier (1872: 87) . Figs. 1 I-N, 7B, 18E. Polypodium astrolepis Liebmann (1849: 185) . Phlebodium astrolepis (Liebm.) Conzatti (1939: 100) . Type:— MEXICO. Oaxaca: Trapiche de la Concepción, F.M. Liebmann s.n. (lectotype: C, designated by Smith (1981); isolectotype: BM!)

Plants epiphytic, epipetric or rarely terrestrial. Rhizomes long-creeping with scales rounded, totally blackish, comose, margin erose to ciliate; fronds monomorphic, 3–15 × 0.4–3 cm, entire, sessile to short-petiolate, petioles flattened dorsiventrally, 0–1.1 cm long, with inconspicuous to short wings, glabrous; laminae 3–13 cm long, lanceolate, base attenuate to cuneate, apex attenuate to acute, margin entire, flat to revolute, adaxial surface glabrous or with simple hyaline hairs and sparsely scaly; costae terete, with sparse scales peltate blackish, lanceolate to rounded; venation free, simple, furcate to eventually anastomosing; frond scales rounded to lanceolate, dark brown to blackish, base rounded, apex acuminate, margin ciliate; sori linear to rounded, medial, glabrous; spores shallowly verrucate with sparse globules.

Selected specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Alagoas: Matriz do Camaragibe, Mata Garabu , 01 April 2005, F. Cavalcante 17 ( MAC) ; São Luis do Quintude , 21August 2004, R.P. Lyra-Lemos 8453 ( ALCB) ; São José da Lage, Sede da Usina Serra Grande , 19 December 2000, M.R. Pietrobom 4674 ( SP) ; Viçosa, Fazenda Mata Verde , 29 December 2007, Chagas-Mota 187 ( MAC) ; Amapá: Calçone , 11 December 2000, F. Cesarino 16 ( BHCB) . Amazonas: Barcelos, Rio Aracá , 13 August 2011, G. Martinelli 16989 ( RB) . Bahia: Almadina, Fazenda São José , 10 December 2014, A. Salino 16004 ( BHCB) ; Camacan, Fazenda Serra Bonita , 2 February 2005, F. B. Matos 266 ( CEPEC) ; Igrapiúna , Litoral Sul, 19 July 2010, M.L. Guedes, M.L. 17365 ( ALCB) ; Itanhém, Corró , 17 August 2004, J.R. Stehmann 3751 ( BHCB) ; Una, estrada São José / Una , 21 July 1984, A.M. Carvalho 2102 ( CESJ, CEPEC) . Ceará: Maranguape, Serra da Pirapora , 9 August 2011, T.E. Almeida 3050 ( BHCB) . Espírito Santo: Alegre, Parque Estadual da Cachoeira da Fumaça , 14 September 2008, A. Salino 13957 ( BHCB) ; Cariacica, Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas. , 14 June 2010, A. Salino 14973 ( BHCB) ; Divino de São Lourenço, Parque Nacional do Caparaó , 10 February 2011, F.S. Souza 1467 ( BHCB) ; Ibitirama , 11 September 2008, A. Salino 13796 ( BHCB) ; Nova Venécia, Pedra do Elefante , 25 August 2009, A. Salino 14414 ( BHCB) ; Santa Tereza , 11 October 2001, L. Kollmann 4828 ( BHCB, MBML) . Goiás: Aporé , 02 August 1995, M.R. Pietrobom-Silva 2403 ( SJRP) . Mato Grosso: Costa Rica, Povoado Lajes , 20 February 1996, F. Firetti 46 ( SJRP) ; Cupim , 20 December 1893, C.A.M. Lindman A2629 ( US) . Mato Grosso do Sul: Corumbá, Mineração Corumbaense Reunidas , 17 February 2005, V. J. Pott 7457 ( BHCB, CGMS) ; Minas Gerais: Araponga, Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro , 28 May 2000, A. Salino 5566 ( BHCB) ; Açucena , 30 March 2009, T.E. Almeida 1924 ( BHCB) ; Barroso, Mata do Baú , 15 December 2001, L.C.S. Assis 414 ( CESJ) ; Camanducaia, Mata do Trevo de acesso, 1 June 2001, A. Salino 6881 ( BHCB, CESJ) ; Capitólio, Cachoeira Feixo da Serra. , 13 July 2006, A.A. Arantes 1999 ( BHCB) ; Carandaí, Pedra do Sino Hotel Fazenda. , 29 April 2005, N.F.O. Mota 111 ( BHCB) ; Carangola , 8 October 1987, L.S. Leoni 132 ( BHCB) ; Caratinga, Margens do rio Manhuaçu , 9 December 2009, T.E. Almeida 2146 ( BHCB) ; Carrancas, Serra de Carrancas , 18 June 2007, A. Salino 12249 ( BHCB) ; Chácara, Fazenda Fortaleza de Santana , 16 July 2011, D.E.F. Barbosa 16 ( CESJ) ; Conceição do Mato Dentro, Morro do Pilar , 25 September 2005, T.E. Almeida 132 ( BHCB) ; Congonhas , 2 June 2005, S.G. Rezende 714 ( BHCB) ; Delfim Moreira , 16 March 2011, T.E. Almeida 2833 ( BHCB) ; Felício do Santos, APA Felício. , 30 October 2004, A. Salino 9919 ( BHCB) ; Furnas, Cachoeira Feixo da Serra. , 28 September 2005, A.A. Arantes 1436 ( BHCB) ; Gonzaga , 24 September 2009, T.E. Almeida 2110 ( BHCB) ; Guarani, Usina Hidrelétrica de Ponte. , 20 June 1998, A. Salino 4262 ( BHCB) ; Itabira, Serra da Cachoeira Alta , 2 August 2006, T.E. Almeida 296 ( BHCB) ; Itabirito, Serra da Moeda , 14 June 2001, A. Salino 7067 ( BHCB, CESJ) ; Itambé do Mato Dentro, Distrito de Santana do Rio Preto , 6 August 2006, T.E. Almeida 354 ( BHCB) ; Jaboticatubas, Serra do Cipó , 5 November 2009, E.B.A. Dias 673 ( CEN) ; Jequitinhonha, Reserva Biológica da Mata Escura , 25 March 2008, A. Salino 13143 ( BHCB) ; João Monlevade , 14 September 1989, P.H.A. Pequeno 87 ( BHCB) ; Juiz de Fora, Mata do Krambeck , 25 March 2008, F.S. Souza 344 ( CESJ) ; Lavras, Parque Florestal Quedas do Rio Bonito , 17 June 2007, A. Salino 12174 ( BHCB) ; Lima Duarte, Serra Negra , 5 April 2009, J.H.C. Ribeiro 82 ( CESJ) ; Mariana, RPPN Horto Alegria , 30 April 2015, J.A.M. Paiva 372 ( BHCB) ; Miradouro, Córrego Pai Inácio , 27 September 2000, A. Salino 6009 ( BHCB) ; Nova Lima, Área de Proteção do Mutuca. , 3 February 2002, F.A. Carvalho 45 ( BHCB) ; Olaria, Serra do Cruz , 23 June 2011, F.E. Alves 96 ( CESJ) ; Ouro Branco , 20 October 2009, D.T. Souza 1005 ( BHCB) ; Ouro Preto, Camarinhas , 19 May 2000, A. Salino 5454 ( BHCB) ; Passa-Vinte, Usina Hidrelétrica de Paes Leme , 15 November 2000, A. Salino 5933 ( BHCB) ; Rio Acima , RPPN de Andaime, 18 May 2004, J.B. Figueiredo 458 ( BHCB) ; Rio Preto, Ninho da Égua , 9 November 2005, F.S. Souza 51 ( BHCB, CESJ) ; Sabará , Mina de Cuiabá da Anglogold Ashanti , 4 May 2006, D.T. Souza 40 ( BHCB) ; Salto da Divisa , 4 March 2004, A. Salino 9427 ( BHCB) ; Santa Bárbara, RPPN Capivari , 12 December 2009, A.J. Arruda 09 ( BHCB) ; Santa Maria do Salto, Distrito de Talismã , 23 August 2003, J.A. Lombardi 5466 ( BHCB) ; Santana do Riacho, RPPN Brumas do Espinhaço e Ermo do Gerais, 9 July 2012, M.G.C. Fernandes 1403 ( BHCB) ; Simonésia, RPPN Mata do Sossego , 23 May 2006, A. Salino 11182 ( BHCB, CESJ) . Pará: Ananindeua, Bairro PAAR, 20 September 2009, M.R. Pietrobom 5939 ( RB) ; Belém, Bairro Pedreira , 03 October 2004, M.R. Pietrobom 5652 ( RB) ; Canaã dos Carajás, Floresta Nacional de Carajás , Serra Sul, Corpo A, 15 February 2010, T.E. Almeida 2216 ( BHCB) ; Bocaina , 13 February 2012, L.F.A. Paula 563 ( BHCB) . Paraíba: Teixeira, a caminho do sítio Tamboril , 18 May 2002, M.F. Agra 5887 ( HUEFS) . Paraná: Caiobá. Prainha , 26 July 1944, C. Stellfeld 772 ( RB) ; Foz do Iguaçu, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu , 7 August 2013, M. Lautert 328 ( BHCB) ; Guaíra, Parque Nacional de Sete Quedas , 18 March 1982, A.T. Silva 353 ( SP) ; Paranaguá, Ilha do Mel , 18 October 1992, A. Salino 1556 ( BHCB) . Pernambuco: Garanhuns , Hotel Tavares Correia, A. Sehnem 12743 ( RB) ; São Vicente Ferrer, Complexo Serra Mascarenhas , 5 October 1998, M.R.P. Silva 4435 ( BHCB) ; Jaqueira, Usina Colônia , 31 May 2001, M.S. Lopes 219 (RB, UFP) . Rio de Janeiro: Cachoeiras de Macacu, Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu , 01 August 2010, K. Baber 477 ( RB) ; Guapimirim, Estação Ecológica Estação de Paraíso , 21 November 1991, L. Sylvestre 670 ( RB) ; Itatiaia, PARNA Itatiaia , 22 October 2018, D.R. Couto 4127 ( RB) ; Nova Friburgo, 10 October 1951, C. Capel s.n. (RB 76500); Paraty, Morro do Corisco , 23 April 1993, R. Marquete 943 ( RB) ; Petrópolis , 24 may 1943, O.C. Góes 74 ( RB) ; Teresópolis, Parque Nacional da Serra dos Orgãos , 28 February 2005, R. Engelmann 296 ( RB) . Rio Grande do Sul: Caxias do Sul, Jardim Botânico , 25 March 2006, P. Rabelo 21 ( UPCB) . Santa Catarina: Blumenau, Parque Nacional da Serra do Itajaí , 28 October 2007, A.L. Gasper 842 ( BHCB, FURB) ; Garcia , 21 March 1952, L.B. Smith 6299 ( COL) ; Joinville , 26 August 1842, P. Schwacke 13345 ( RB) ; Nova Trento , 22 January 1940, J.A. Rubs 206 ( RB) . São Paulo: Analândia, Serra do Cuscuzeiro , June 1993, A. Salino 1775 ( BHCB) ; Bananal, Estação Ecológica do Bananal , 9 March 2001, A. Salino 6339 ( BHCB) ; Eldorado, Parque Estadual do Jacupiranga , 22 March 2005, A. Salino 10125 ( BHCB) ; Itanhaém, Hotel Fazenda São Camilo , 16 April 2001, A. Salino 6576 ( BHCB, CESJ) ; Miracatu, Reserva Votorantim , 27 March 2013, T.E. Almeida 3202 ( BHCB) ; Paranapanema, Estação Ecológica , 3 August 2006, R. Cielo Filho 534 ( BHCB) ; Ribeirão Grande, Parque Estadual Intervales , 15 April 2003, A. Salino 8428 ( BHCB, CESJ) ; Sete Barras , 27 July 1994, A. Salino 1989 ( BHCB) ; São Luís do Paraitinga, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar , 4 March 2001, A. Salino 6176 ( BHCB, CESJ) ; São Paulo, Cidade Jardim , 20 March 1946, W. Hoehne 2027 ( CESJ, SJRP) ; Ubatuba, Parque Estadual da Ilha Anchieta , 7 May 1993, A. Salino 1704 ( BHCB) ; Sergipe: Areia Branca, PARNA Serra de Itabaiana , 29 May 2017, J.L. Santos 43 ( ASE) .

Distribution and habitat: — United States of America, Mexico, Antilles, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. In Brazil, this species occurs in practically all vegetation domains and states between sea level to 1800 m, rarely above this elevation ( Fig. 3B ).

Notes: —Differs from all other species because of its simple fronds, comose rhizome scales and blackish, flat winged petiole, sori linear, rarely round. Pleopeltis astrolepis is most like P. macrocarpa and P. stolzei , but it can be differentiated by the comose rhizome scales and flat petiole, while the latter two species have glabrous rhizome scales and terete petioles.

This species has one of the largest distributions of the genus in the country and has great morphological variation. Apparently, it can exhibit dwarfism or neoteny because there are various records of very small plants compared to the average size of fertile individuals. More detailed studies are needed to confirm the presence of these conditions in this species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–H. Pleopeltis alborufula. A. Habit; B. Rhizome scale; C. Petiole scale; D. Adaxial rachis scale; E. Abaxial rachis scale; F. Adaxial laminar scale; G.Abaxial laminar scale; H. Sorus scale. I–N. P. astrolepis. I. Habit; J–K. Rhizome scales; L.Abaxial rachis scale; M. Adaxial laminar scale; N. Abaxial laminar scale.

FIGURE 3. Distribution of four species of Pleopeltis in Brazil. A. P. alborufula; B. P. astrolepis; C. P. aturensis; D. P. bombycina.