Asplenium projectum has only been collected a handful of times since it was first collected in 1829 by Poeppig in Peru. This is the first record from Colombia. I found it growing on a moist cliff face in dense primary forest of Parque Nacional Las Orquideas. The plants were forming small colonies via proliferous roots at the leaf apices. The leaves measure about 7 cm long, and the pinnae about 2mm long. Tryon and Stolze (1993, Pteridophyta of Peru V:33) thought that it was closely allied to two other minute flagelliform andean species, A. gilliesii Hook. and A. lorentzii Hieron. However, pinna shape of A. projectum seems more similar to other larger proliferous species like A. rutaceum or A. euadoresnse.
-
- Habit
-
- Abaxial lamina with sori
Wow!!! This is one of the coolest species of Asplenium that I have ever seen. Nice find!
Very cool plant, Michael. I wonder how common this is in primary forests and maybe overlooked. Probably rare.
I thought A. rutaceum was one of those highly divided, 3 pinnate species???
It is! http://www.fernsoftheworld.com/2013/12/20/asplenium-rutaceum/
The pinnules of A. projectum remind me of the smallest segments. A. rutaceum. Its a big jump, but I think a better guess than some of the smaller species suggested by Tryon & Stolze such as A. gilliesii http://www.nybg.org/botany/nee/ambo/Checklist/slides-pter/pages/Asplenium_gilli.htm
Hey, I was looking at your photos from Bolivia [Amboro, link above]. They are amazing! You should consider putting them all here someday.