My field work is centered in Colombia, and Papua New Guinea. I am based at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (E). If you have any ferns that you want identified, please send them to me!
I agree they are quite different. I will check the specimens again and ask Marcus Lehnert to weigh in. He monographed the genus and should be able to sort things out.
The large plant is M. flabelliformis; the small one is M. moniliformis, I think. I know that the latter species grows as an epiphyte in Mexico but it is usually terrestrial with upright fronds.
Both species may actually look the same. Best distinguished by the rhizomes scales, but the hairs are also a good hint (scattered between sori and on rhachis in M. flabelliformis, more clustered in sor in M. moniliformis, if present at all)
… do I have the tendency to lecture people … ? Better safe than sorry …
Dear Michael,
I am a little puzzled when looking at your 2015 pictures of M. flabelliformis. Who is who??
Please help me to recognize the right one.
Many Thanks, Malte
I agree they are quite different. I will check the specimens again and ask Marcus Lehnert to weigh in. He monographed the genus and should be able to sort things out.
The large plant is M. flabelliformis; the small one is M. moniliformis, I think. I know that the latter species grows as an epiphyte in Mexico but it is usually terrestrial with upright fronds.
Both species may actually look the same. Best distinguished by the rhizomes scales, but the hairs are also a good hint (scattered between sori and on rhachis in M. flabelliformis, more clustered in sor in M. moniliformis, if present at all)
… do I have the tendency to lecture people … ? Better safe than sorry …
Thanks Marcus! I will update this collection to M. moniliformis with you as having made the determination.