A New Brazilian Species of the Genus Asplenium L. (Aspleniaceae)

2009·2.5 MB·English

by  Fernando B Matos

A
New
Genus Asplenium
Brazilian Species of the
(Aspleniaceae)
L.
Fernando Matos
B.
Universidade Federal do Parana, Depto. de Botanica, CP. 19031, 81531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
[email protected]
Lana
Sylvestre
S.
Km
Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Depto. de Botanica, BR-465. CEP 23890-000,
7,
Seropedica,
Brazil. [email protected]
RJ,
The
asplenioid ferns, including the genus Asplenium and
L. putative
its
make
up one most among
segregates, of the species-rich groups leptospo-
rangiate ferns, comprising approximately 700 species, mainly with
tropical
distribution (Schneider et ai, 2004; Smith et al, 2006). According to Sylvestre
and Windisch
(2003), Brazil harbors about 70 species of Asplenium,
representing nearly half of the diversity found in the Neotropics (close to
150 species, according to Tryon and Tryon, 1982). As the case with many
is
other fern genera [e.g., Moran, 1981; Moran et in press], the Serra do Mar
al.,
mountains
along the coast of southeastern Brazil play a very important role in
the diversification of this group, presenting a high level of endemism. Recent
botanical expeditions to these mountains, in the States of Bahia and
Espi'rito
new
Santo, have revealed a species of the genus Asplenium, which we
describe as follows:
Asplenium truncorum & TYPE.—
Matos, Labiak
F. B. Sylvestre, nov.
L. sp.
RPPN
BRAZIL. Camacan,
Bahia:
Serra Bonita, 15 23'25"S, 39 34'05"W,
920 m, 29 2008, Matos 1537 UPCB;
Jul F. B. et (holotype: isotypes:
al.
CEPEC, NY,
RB, 2A-C, F-G.
SP). Figs.
1,
Species Asplenia martiano minus
C. Chr. similaris, differt laminis divisis,
ad basin 1-pinnatis, petiolis laminis dimidio brevioribus habitu epiphytico.
et
Plants epiphytic. Rhizomes erect; scales 1.5-2 X 0.3-0.5 mm, lanceolate,
atrocastaneous, clathrate, tips twisted and long attenuate, margins with
AMERICAN VOLUME
FERN
JOURNAL:
9

AMERICAN FERN VOLUME NUMBER
JOURNAL:
99
2 (2009)
to long-attenuate, margins dentate; veins mostly simple except the proximal
for
which
ones,
are forked, readily visible on both vein ends expanded
sides,
mm
adaxially. Sori 1-5(12) pairs per pinna, occasionally diplazioid; indusia
5
mm
X
long
wide, membranaceous,
0.3 linear, firmly margins
spores
entire;
reniform, monolete, with few and
a large broad anastomosing
ridges.
Distribution and Ecology.—^sp/enium truncorum known
only from
the
is
montane
moist
forests of coastal Brazil, in the States of Bahia and
Espi'rito
m
750-950
Santo, above
at sea level. This species seems to grow exclusively as
a low-trunk epiphyte on
tree ferns (Fig. A], especially Alsophila setosa
1,
Kaulf. (Cyatheaceae).
Conservation.—
Despite of remarkable and
its species richness exceptional
concentration endemics,
of the devastation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
continues a very alarming Nowadays
at considered one most
rate. of the
it is
threatened biomes on with
Earth, very fragmented
a distribution along the
Brazilian coast. Because has a narrow extent of occurrence
it in this scenario,
Asplenium truncorum lUCN
meets
the (lUCN,
criteria 2001) of vulnerable
species (VU: Bl + b
a
iii).
Etymology.—The
specific epithet "truncorum" was chosen due
to habitat
its
preference
for tree fern trunks.
SW
Paratypes.— BRAZIL. km
Bahia: Almadina, do
Serra Corcovado, ao de
9,8
N
Coaracf na estrada para Almadina, Fazenda
dai ate a Sao 14'42'21"S,
Jose,
39=36'12"W, 750 m, 19 Apr 2007, Matos 1408 (CEPEC, UPCB); Camacan,
et
al.
RPPN
Serra Bonita, 15 23'30"S, 39 33'55"W, 835 m, Feb Thomas
2004,
1 et
al.
RPPN
13796 (CEPEC); Camacan,
Serra Bonita, 15°23'30"S, 39°33'55"W, 835 m,
Feb Matos RPPN
3 2005, et 305 (CEPEC, UPCB); Camacan,
al. Serra Bonita,
15=23'30"S, 39 33'55"W, 835 m, 13 Feb 2005, Matos 446 (CEPEC, UPCB);
et
al.
RPPN
do Teimoso
Jussari, Serra [750 m], 27 2005, Matos 806 (CEPEC,
Jul et
al.
UPCB). Ako
Espi'rito Santo: Santa Teresa, Sao Lourengo, da
Cachoeira, 25
Si'tio
Oct Demuneret MBML);
2000, 1477 (BHCB, Nova
al. Santa Teresa, Lombardia,
Reserva Augusto
Biologica Ruschi
[800 m], 27 2002, Vervloet 559
Jul et
al.
(BHCB, MBML);
Nova
Santa
Teresa, Lombardia, Reserva Augusto
Biologica
Ruschi [800 m], 18 Dec 2002, Rose Pereira 20 (BHCB, MBML).
Sr
Asplenium
truncorum
can be recognized by rhizome, with
erect stipes
its ca.
1/3 to 1/2 of the lamina length, 1-pinnate or less divided lamina, non-conform
and membranaceous
apical pinnae,
chartaceous
to leaf texture. Superficially,
it
resembles Asplenium
auriculatum Sw.
and
in habit, leaf dissection
color.
However,
the latter can be easily recognized by the presence of prominent
auricles in the acroscopic base of the pinnae that often overlap the rachis.
Asplenium martianum
Chr. probably one most
C. is of the closely related
species in Brazil, being distinct by its longer stipes (the same length as the
lamina
or longer), blades usually 2-pinnate base deeply
at (or at least 1-
and
pinnate-pinatifid),
preferentially Besides
terrestrial habitat.
that, their
spores are quite distinct, with those of Asplenium martianum showing
alate
MATOS A NEW
ET BRAZILIAN SPECIES OF ASPLENIUM
AL.:
and wings Asplenium
folds echinulate (Fig. D-E). austrobrasiliense (Christ)
2,
Maxon
also seems to be related morphologically, differing mainly by
its
stipes with approximately the same length as the laminae. Asplenium
which
cariocanum Brade, ecologically similar in habitat, differs in having
is
fringed stem scales with pronounced dark teeth, pinnae with lobately serrate
margins and nearly symmetric pinnae bases that are usually auriculate.
Wm.
The authors thank Andre M. Amorim (UESC) and Wayt Thomas (NYBG) supporting
for
field work in southern Bahia and studies at the NYBG, as part of the project "Flora of the montane
NSF NGS CNPq
forests in Southern Bahia, Brazil" (Beneficia Foundation, 9972116, 7785-05, and
CNPq NSF
was funded by 306878/2007-0 and 309415/2008-0) and (DEB
also partially (Proc. n.
diagnosis, Diana Carneiro for preparing the illustrations, and Judith Garrison Hanks for preparing
SEM
the images of the spores.