Isoetes lechleri, Mett., Fil. Lechl.

Kessler, Michael & Smith, Alan R., 2018, Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. IV. Isoëtaceae, Phytotaxa 344 (1), pp. 83-86 : 85

Isoëtes lechleri Mett., Fil. Lechl. 2: 36. 1859.

= Isoëtes glacialis Aspl., Ark. Bot. 20A(7): 35, f. 7. 1926.

Range:— Northern Peru to Bolivia (CO, LP).

Ecology:— Common; submerged aquatic, rarely emergent, in high-elevation lakes, pools, and streams, usually near margins of water bodies to about 1 m depth, but also in deeper water; 3000–5200 m.

Notes:— Megaspores 0.28–0.44 mm in diameter, smooth; microspores 34–39 μm long, with acute to truncate projections; 2 n =44. Variable in size, leaf texture and color, and rootstock elongation. Many variants have irregularly shaped and sized spores, suggesting possible hybridity. Several segregate species have been proposed in this complex (especially, unpublished names by Fuchs-Eckert 1982), but with present knowledge, the recognition of a single, variable species seems most appropriate ( Hickey 1992).