Pleopeltis stolzei Smith (2005: 282)

Souza, Filipe Soares De & Salino, Alexandre, 2021, Pleopeltis (Polypodiaceae) in Brazil, Phytotaxa 512 (4), pp. 213-256 : 247-253

17. Pleopeltis stolzei Smith (2005: 282) . Figs. 14A–I , 15H , 17D, I . Pleopeltis macrocarpa (Willd.) Kaulf. var. laciniata Stolze (1993: 143) . Type:— PERU. Huánuco: Tingo María, hills above river, Moran & Fernández 3681 (holotype: USM; isotypes: F! image, MO)

Plants epiphytic. Rhizomes short-creeping, with scales lanceolate, blackish, base rounded with a blackish point of attachment, apex acuminate, margin blackish and entire; fronds monomorphic, 9–13 × 1.2–1.6 cm, petiolate, petioles terete, 0.5–1.5 cm long, alate, scaly; laminae 8–11 cm long, simple, lanceolate to elliptic, base cuneate, apex acuminate to aristate, margin entire, scaly on both surfaces; rachises terete, glabrescent; venation anastomosing; frond scales lanceolate to ovate (those of petioles), ovate to stellate (those of both surfaces of laminae) or widely-elliptic to rounded (those of sori), stramineous to brown or brown to blackish, base rounded with a blackish point of attachment, apex acuminate, margin stramineous, brown to blackish and entire, erose or laciniate; sori rounded, infra-medial, covered by scales; spores shallowly verrucate with sparse globules.

Specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Acre: Mâncio Lima, Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor , 14 December 2010, T.E. Almeida & A. Salino 2629 ( BHCB) ; Amazonas: Barreririnha , 14 April 1970, B.W.P. Albuquerque 304 ( INPA) ; Tabatinga , Tribo dos Ticum, 13 October 1976, P.I.S. Braga 3119 ( INPA) ; March 1875, J.W. Traill 1289 (K).

Distribution and habitat: — Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. In Brazil, it is known only from Acre and Amazonas states ( Fig. 16A ).

Notes: —This species can be recognized by its cuneate lamina base and brown scales on the abaxial surface of the lamina. In Brazil, it can be confused with P. macrocarpa . However, P. stolzei has a winged petiole unlike the petiole of P. macrocarpa .

According to MMA (2014) the species is not threatened. However, after reviewing the IUCN criteria (IUCN 2017, https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/categories-and-criteria), the authors believe that the species should be classified as EN. It presents a small area of occurrence and occupation, being known to only one locality (Serra do Divisor).

Figures

FIGURE 14. A–I. Pleopeltis stolzei. A. Habit; B. Rhizome scale; C. Petiole scale; D. Adaxial rachis scale; E. Abaxial rachis scale; F–G. Adaxial laminar scale; H–I. Abaxial laminar scale. J–Q. P. trindadensis. J. Habit; K. Rhizome scale; L. Petiole scale; M. Adaxial rachis scale; N. Abaxial rachis scale; O. Adaxial laminar scale; P. Abaxial laminar scale; Q. Sorus scale.

FIGURE 15. Spores of nine species of Pleopeltis from Brazil. A. P. lepidopteris; B. P. macrocarpa; C. P. minarum; D. P. minima; E. P. monoides; F. P. pleopeltidis; G. P. pleopeltifolia; H. P. stolzei; I. P. trindadensis. Scale bar = 20 mm

FIGURE 16. Distribution of two species of Pleopeltis in Brazil. A. P. stolzei; B. P. trindadensis.

FIGURE 17. Rhizome scales of seven species of Pleopeltis from Brazil. A. P. burchelii, rhizome; B. P. minima, rhizome; C. P. gyroflexa; D. P. stolzei; E. P. minima; F. P. macrocarpa; G. P. bombycina; H. P. monoides; I. P. stolzei; J. P. burchelii.