Dracoglossum plantagineum

by | Feb 16, 2015 | Ferns, Observations | 2 comments

Dracoglossum includes two species that were previously thought to belong to Tectaria. The two genera share a number of characters including round, indusiate (or exindusiate) sori and anastomosing venation.  Dracoglossum differs from Tectaria, among other things, by lacking a columellate persispore. Given the venation and arrangement of the sori, you could mistake this plant for a Campyloneurum as well, however the spores are dark brown, a color which does not occur in Campyloneurum or any other Polypodiaceae. Dracoglossum has an air of mystery to it, at least in my mind, in part owing to the unfortunate description of the genus nearly five years prior to publication of supporting molecular phylogenetic evidence.  Evidence from chloroplast markers resolves it as sister to Lomariopsis from which it differs by having anastomosing veins, discrete sori, and simple leaves (which occur rarely in Lomariopsis). The rhizomes of Dracoglossum also lack the elongate ventral meristele that is characteristic of Lomariopsis. Interestingly, in Dracoglossum the meristeles do appear to be encircled by black rings, and the ventral meristeles are larger than the dorsal ones. If the two ventral meristeles were fused, the rhizome cross-section would appear very similar to that of Lomariopsis. The roots appear to be restricted to the ventral side of the rhizome as well. I will post photos of the cross-section here as soon as I generate some high quality images.

 

 

Collection data

Classification & Common Names
Collection Data
  • Collection Date: 22-I-2015
  • Primary collector: M. Sundue
  • Collected by: M. Sundue w/ the OTS tropical ferns and lycophtyes course
  • Determined by: M. Sundue
  • Habitat: Evergreen rainforest
  • Habit: Terrestrial
Collection Location

About the Author

<a href="https://www.fernsoftheworld.com/author/msundue/" target="_self">Michael Sundue</a>

Michael Sundue

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!

2 Comments

  1. Fernando Matos

    Nice post! Is that a proliferous bud at the laminar apex? Do you know if the other species is also like that?

    Reply
    • Michael Sundue

      Yes that is a bud. I believe that both species are proliferous.

      Reply

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