Selaginella beitelii A.R. Sm.

Valdespino, Ivan A., 2015, Novelties in Selaginella (Selaginellaceae - Lycopodiophyta), with emphasis on Brazilian species, PhytoKeys 57, pp. 93-133 : 105

Selaginella beitelii A.R. Sm.

Selaginella beitelii A.R. Sm., Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 77: 264. 1990. - Type. Venezuela. Amazonas: Cerro de la Neblina, Camp 7, 5.1 km NE Pico Phelps, along Caño Gardner, 01°50'40"N, 65°58'10"W, 1735 m, 30 Jan 1985, J. Beitel 85079 (holotype: UC! [UC1551881]; isotype: NY! [NY00144076]).

Additional specimen examined.

BRAZIL. Amazonas: São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Parque Nacional do Pico da Neblina, trail to Cachoeira Anta, between Camp Lajero and Marco 5 of the borderline between Brazil and Venezuela, 00°49'08"N, 65°58'01"W, 2272 m, 30 Dec 2004, Carvalho et al. 353 (INPA-n.v., PMA).

Discussion.

Selaginella beitelii was considered endemic to Sierra (Cerro) de la Neblina in Venezuela ( Smith 1990). It is now known from the Brazilian side of this mountain. It is terrestrial or epiphytic and characterized by having axillary rhizophores, median leaves broadly ovate to semicordate with the outer base prominently lobed and the inner base oblique, the margins narrowly hyaline (more so on inner ones) and denticulate, and the lamina abruptly tapering towards the apex, the lateral leaves broadly ovate to semicordate with the acroscopic half almost twice as wide as the basiscopic half, the acroscopic margin narrowly hyaline to greenish, the basiscopic margin greenish, and both margins denticulate to entire.