This fern was growing in the coastal vegetation, just a few meters away from the beach. Note the white wax on the stipes, rachises, and abaxial surface of the leaves. I have seen herbarium material, especially from the Andes, with yellow wax.
Pityrogramma trifoliata
Collection data
Classification & Common Names
- Class: Polypodiopsida
- Family: Pteridaceae
- Genus: Pityrogramma Link
- Species: Pityrogramma trifoliata (L.) R.M. Tryon
Collection Data
- Collection Date: 30-XII-2013
- Collection Number: 2393
- Primary collector: F.B. Matos & C. Matos
- Determined by: F.B. Matos, XII.2013
- Habitat: Restinga
- Habit: Terrestrial
- Specimen location: UPCB
Collection Location
- Country: Brazil
- State or Province: Paraná
- Municipality: Pontal do Paraná
- Coordinates: ,
- Elevation: at sea level
Great photos! Its really interesting to see that species in a coastal habitat. What other species do you find there? Do you get Rumohra adiantiformis?
Thanks! Rumohra adiantiformis is here. I will try to get a specimen for a photo shoot today. There is also Blechnum serrulatum, Palhinhaea cernua, and another species of lycopod (probably Pseudolycopodiella meridionalis, but not sure because it is sterile).
Hey, have you ever seen P. trifoliata with yellow wax (perhaps in Bolivia)? Do you think it is the same species?
Great question. Rolla Tryon who monographed the genus thought that they were a single species. However, in other farinose groups such as Pentagramma, different farina colors have turned out to warrant status as separate species. If that pattern holds in Pityrogramma it would be very interesting. I did collect P. trifoliata in Bolivia, but if memory serves, I think I collected non-farinose material. You can check the collections at NY.
Very interesting! This also occurs in P. calomelanos: var. calomelanos with “farina blanca” and var. austroamericana with “farina amarilla”. Someone should investigate this further, starting by looking at a lot of herbarium material to map the geographic distribution of these varieties.