Phlegmariurus pachyskelos B. Øllg., 2016

Øllgaard, Benjamin, 2016, New neotropical Lycopodiaceae, Phytotaxa 277 (3), pp. 266-274 : 268-269

Phlegmariurus pachyskelos B. Øllg. , sp. nov. — Fig. 2

Resembling Phlegmariurus serpentiformis (Herter) B. Øllg. , comb. nov. and P. brevifolius (Greville & Hooker 1831: 104) Øllgaard (2012: 12) but differing by its very large size, stems 8–12 mm thick excluding leaves (dried) sometimes tapering to 5–6 mm upward, shoots including leaves 10–15 mm in diameter, and leaves borne in whorls of 5–6 forming 10–12 longitudinal ranks.

Type:— COLOMBIA. Huila-Cauca: Macizo Colombiano , páramo de Las Papas, Cerros y alrededores de la laguna La Magdalena, 3530 m, 16 October 1958, Idrobo, J.M., Pinto, P. & Bischler, H. 3298 (holotype COL , isotype NY ).

Plants terrestrial, erect or ascending, stiff and robust, forming small to large clumps, without basal, prostrate-ascending, rejuvenating shoots in the periphery, to more than 40 cm tall, to 5 times dichotomous. Shoots homophyllous, almost equally thick throughout, 10–15 mm in diameter including the reflexed leaves, or sometimes tapering to 8 mm in diameter in terminal divisions. Stems excluding leaves 8–10 mm thick at the base (dried), sometimes tapering upward to 5–6 mm, usually concealed by leaf bases, usually minutely scabrate, sporangiate from 10–25 cm above the base and upward. Leaves almost uniform throughout, densely crowded, or sometimes more spaced in basal divisions, borne in regular, alternating whorls of 5–6, these 1.5–2.5 mm apart, forming 10–12 longitudinal ranks, perpendicular to usually sharply recurved-reflexed, with straight to recurved apex, broadly ovate or triangular-ovate to broadly suborbicularcordate or triangular-cordate, short-acute to almost obtuse, sometimes slightly sigmoid, 3.5–5(–6) × (2.5–)3–4(–5) mm, stiffly coriaceous, green, abaxially concave, with prominent vein, with somewhat prominent, flattened, shortdecurrent basal swelling (air sac), adaxially with prominent vein, slightly revolute, strongly sclerified, darker and somewhat translucent, smooth to minutely erose margins. Sporangia 1.5–2 mm wide.

Distribution:— Colombia, endemic.

Habitats:—High páramos at 3100–4300 m.

Notes:— Phlegmariurus pachyskelos appears like a massive form of P. brevifolius and P. serpentiformis (Herter) B.Øllg. , comb. nov. with the stems 8–12 mm thick (in dried material). The group of Phlegmariurus brevifolius is complex and polymorphic in the northern Andes, not least in Colombia. The group still needs careful study, but the present species stands sufficiently apart to merit recognition.

Etymology: —Greek ” pachyskelos ” means ”thick legs”.

Additional specimens examined:— COLOMBIA. Boyacá: Nevado del Cocuy, alto valle de Las Lagunillas , 4000–4300 m, Cuatrecasas 1508 ( US) . Cauca: Cordillera Central , W slope, Headwaters of Río Palo, high páramos between Quebrada de San Paulino and Quebrada del López, Lagunilla de Las Casitas, 3700 m, Cuatrecasas, J. 19116 ( F, GH, US) . Huila/ Cauca: Páramo de Las Papas , near headwaters of Río Magdalena, 3100–3500 m, Camilo, A. s.n. ( US) . Meta: Páramo de Sumapaz, Cerro Nevado de Sumapaz , 4000 m, Cleef, A. M. 1531 ( AAU, U)

Figures

FIGURE 2. Phlegmariurus pachyskelos. A. Growth habit. B. Terminal divisions. (Idrobo, Pinto & Bischler 3298, holotype COL)