Phlegmariurus silverstonei B. Øllg., 2016

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

Phlegmariurus silverstonei B. Øllg. , sp. nov. — Fig. 3

This species seems related to Phlegmariurus hystrix ( Herter 1953: 120) Øllgaard (2012: 16) , but differs in the much smaller size and delicate texture, with shorter and very narrow leaves, abaxially with a prominent veinal ridge as in P. hystrix , but with a minutely and omnilaterally spinulose leaf apex.

Type:— COLOMBIA: Chocó: Mun. San José del Palmar, Cerro del Torrá , filo de cumbre, vegetación abierta con arbustos, hierbas, gramíneas, helechos, algunos árboles pequeños ( Clusia , Podocarpus , Geonoma ), 2700–2800 m, 21 August 1971, Silverstone-Sopkin, F.A. et al. 4652 (holotype CUVC , isotype AAU ).

Terrestrial, ascending to erect, mature plants forming small clumps, without basal, prostrate-ascending, rejuvenating shoots in the periphery, to 20 cm tall, to 3 times dichotomous. Shoots homophyllous, almost equally thick throughout, 8–13 mm in diameter including leaves. Stems excluding leaves 3–4 mm thick at the base, sometimes slightly tapering upward, completely concealed by leaves. Leaves uniform throughout, or slightly smaller upward, densely crowded, borne in more or less regular, often oblique or obscure, alternating whorls of 8–10, these 0.5–1 mm apart, forming 16–20 often obscure longitudinal ranks, patent-ascending to imbricate from a short nearly perpendicular base, the apex slightly falcate, linear-subulate, widest just above the base, (5–)6–8 × 0.6–1 mm, evenly tapering, with a broad, prominent veinal ridge abaxially, adaxially flattened, without a basal swelling abaxially, not decurrent, green, with smooth margins, the apical 1–1.5 mm omnilaterally minutely spiny. Sporangia ca. 1.5 mm wide.

Distribution:— Colombia. Endemic.

Habitats:—In open ridge top vegetation with grasses, shrubs and small trees, at 2700–2800 m. The collection locality was described by Siverstone-Sopkin & Ramos-Pérez (1995).

Notes:—Named in honour of Philip Silverstone-Sopkin in recognition of his contribution to the knowledge of the flora of southwestern and western Colombia.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Phlegmariurus silverstonei. A. Growth habit. B. Detail of fertile division with some leaves removed (Silverstone-Sopkin et al. 4652, holotype CUVC).