Lomaria brunea (M.Kessler & A.R.Sm.) Gasper & V.A.O.Dittrich, Phytotaxa

Smith, Alan R. & Kessler, Michael, 2018, Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XXXIII. Blechnaceae, Phytotaxa 334 (2), pp. 99-117 : 106-108

Lomaria brunea (M.Kessler & A.R.Sm.) Gasper & V.A.O.Dittrich, Phytotaxa 275(3): 211. 2016. ( Fig. 2 A–H )

= Blechnum bruneum M.Kessler & A.R.Sm., Amer. Fern J. 97(2): 71. 2007.

Range:— Andes of Peru and Bolivia (CO, LP).

Ecology:— Locally fairly common; swampy places in humid montane forests; 2200–2500 m.

Notes:— This species is closely related to Lomaria spannagelii (Rosenst.) Gasper & V.A.O.Dittrich , from southern Brazil. The main characters distinguishing them are that the stipes and rachises of L. brunea are generally more persistently and more densely scaly than in L. spannagelii , in which the stipe base scales usually continue well onto the rachises); the stipes and rachises are also darker (atropurpureous or purple-brown, sometimes almost blackish vs. stramineous or tan in L. spannagelii ). Laminar scales on the pinnae abaxially of L. brunea are considerably broader, more numerous, some more or less entire, more ovate (narrower, more contorted/twisted and pectinate in L. spannagelii ). There are no molecular data, but we surmise that these two are likely sister species, and perhaps closely related to L. oceanica (Rosenst.) Gasper & V.A.O.Dittrich from New Caledonia.

The original illustration of Blechnum bruneum (Kessler et al. 2001, fig. 2J) is in error, it does not depict this species accurately; however, the original description is accurate. For this reason, we here include a new illustration of the species ( Fig. 2 ). Many pairs of proximal pinnae are very gradually reduced, both in the holotype ( UC) and the isotype ( GOET), as well as other specimens representing this species in UC. This character is also shown in L. spannagelii .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Lomaria brunea (from Fuentes 10260 et al., UC). A. Habit. B. Detail of sterile pinna, abaxial view. C. Fertile pinna, abaxial view. D. Rhizome scale. E. Petiole scale. F–H. Costal scales.