Key to the Bolivian species of Salpichlaena (adapted from Cárdenas et al. 2019)

1 Fertile pinnules highly contracted, ca. 1–2 mm wide; buds borne in axils of sterile pinnae ...................................... S. hookeriana

- Fertile pinnules not much contracted, ca. 10 mm wide or more; buds lacking ................................................................................ 2

2 Apices of sterile pinnae/pinnules obviously serrate; costal scales broad and shapeless abaxially, like crumpled paper, or ovate with or without small gland-tipped appendages (each with 1 or 2 cells) ................................................................................. S. papyrus

- Apices of sterile pinnae/pinnules entire, crenulate to serrulate; costal scales lanceolate to ovate, with long basal appendages ........ ............................................................................................................................................................. S. volubilis subsp. amazonica