Christella hispidula (Decne.) Holttum

Matos, Fernando B., Bohn, Amabily & Labiak, Paulo H., 2020, The ferns and lycophytes of Reserva Natural Guaricica, Antonina, Paraná, Brazil, Check List 16 (1), pp. 183-206 : 197

Christella hispidula (Decne.) Holttum

Figure 5I

Examined material. BRAZIL • 2 specimens; Fazenda Rincão ; 25°18′53″S, 048°41′46″W; alt. 30 m; 1 Mar. 2005; F.B. Matos & U. Ferreira 466 leg.; MBM333033, UPCB10243 • 2 specimens; Estrada Sede-Gervásio ; 25°17′33″S, 048°42′15″W; alt. 30 m; 30 Apr. 2005; F.B. Matos & M.O. Silva 539 leg.; MBM333034, UPCB10249 • 2 specimens; same collection data as for preceding; F.B. Matos & M.O. Silva 543 leg.; MBM333035, UPCB10248 • 2 specimens; Faisqueira ; 25°22′14″S, 048°39′56″W; alt. 15 m; 7 Oct. 2005; F.B. Matos & P.B. Schwartsburd 858 leg.; MBM333036, UPCB10271 • 1 specimen; Trilha da Guaricica ; 25°19′13″S, 048°42′04″W; alt. 20 m; 8 Oct. 2005; F.B. Matos & P.B. Schwartsburd 867 leg.; UPCB10268 • 2 specimens; Trilha dos Pinheiros; 25°20′05″S, 048°40′54″W; alt. 30 m; 30 Apr. 2006; F.B. Matos & G. Weiss 1124 leg.; MBM333037, UPCB10269 • 1 specimen; Fazenda Santa Olímpia ; 25°16′45″S, 048°43′57″W; alt. 15 m; 27 Aug. 2017; F.B. Matos & J. Pontes 2604 leg.; UPCB44196 • 1 specimen; Trilha da Rede ; 25°17′49″S, 048°40′23″W; alt. 25 m; 25 Jun. 2019; F.B. Matos & V. Veiga 2673 leg.; UPCB44390 .

Identification. Characterized by short-creeping stems, 1-pinnate-pinnatifid leaves, the lowermost veins of adja- cent segments uniting below sinuses with an excurrent vein to the sinuses, and the indument abaxially of numerous, unbranched, acicular hairs. Sori round, with large and hairy indusia. It is often confused with Christella dentata (Forssk.) Brownsey & Jermy , which differs by uniformly short hairs (0.1–0.2 mm long) on the costae abaxially (vs hairs of variable length, 0.3–0.8 mm long, in C. hispidula ).

Distribution and habitat. Pantropical, introduced and naturalized in the Americas, from SE USA to Uruguay. Terrestrial in degraded areas.