Elaphoglossum alipes Mickel, Fieldiana, Bot.

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 alipes Mickel, Fieldiana, Bot. n.s. 27: 122. 1991. ( Fig. 1 ).

Range: — Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia (CO).

Ecology: —Epiphytic, in humid montane Yungas forest ; 1250 m (down to 380 m in Peru).

Notes: —This is a new record for Bolivia, where it is known only from a single collection (Kessler 13237, LPB, UC). Elaphoglossum alipes belongs to sect. Setosa , which is characterized by having leaves with hydathodes and subulate scales. The species is distinguished by oblanceolate sterile leaves with subsessile blades, subulate scales, white fungal patches, and hydathodes. It could be confused with juvenile specimens of E. amazonicum Atehortúa ex Mickel and E. raywaense (Jenman) Alston , but it differs by the presence of white fungal patches and conspicuous hydathodes. In Bolivia, five other species of sect. Setosa have white fungal patches, namely, E. delasotae , E. latevagans , E. notatum , E. papillosum , and E. zebrinum . Of these, the only one that also has very short petioles is E. zebrinum , which differs from E. alipes by linear-oblanceolate blades (vs. oblanceolate) and white patches restricted to the leaf tissue between veins (vs. extending across veins). Elaphoglossum alipes is also here reported for the first time in Ecuador, based on Cazalet 7621 (K, NY, US), Clark 5674 (NY), Moran 7479 (NY), and Øllgaard 1952 (AAU).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Herbarium specimen of Elaphoglossum alipes (Kessler 13237, UC), a new record for Bolivia.