Which subgroup do you want to view? (these are targets within this page)

• subulate-scaled group
• sect. Lepidoglossa
• sect. Squamipedia
• sect. Elaphoglossum
• sect. Amygdalifolium

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The clade is characterized by subulate scales and/or hydathodes. Within the clade, there is a monophyletic group (boryanum - eximium) characterized by hydathodes, and another monophyletic group (species 1 - auripilum on the evolutionary tree) characterized by short-petiolate or sessile leaves. This latter group corresponds to sect. Polytrichia subsect. Apoda.
 

A species (Elaphoglossum pilosius) of the subulate-scaled group, from Cerro de la Muerte, 3200 m, Costa Rica. (photo by R. C. Moran).	Scales typical of the subulate-scaled group. (Elaphoglossum erinaceum, Costa Rica)

Some typical species of subulate-scaled Elaphoglossum.       A-E.  E. pilosius  F-G.  E. setosum J-L.  E. jaliscanum M,N.  E. pusillum Q.  E. monicae

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This section is characterized by conspicuously scaly blades. The scales can have a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors.
 

A scaly species of Elaphoglossum from Costa Rica (photo by R. C. Moran)	Scaly blade representative of Elaphoglossum section Lepidoglossa (photo by R. C. Moran)

Elaphoglossum sect. Lepidoglossa       A-F.  Elaphoglossum muscosum G-P.  E. paleaceum Q.  E. vestitum R-W.  E. pringlei                         (from Mickel & Beitel, 1988)

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This section is characterized by slender, long-creeping, two-ranked rhizomes, small leaves (generally less than 20 cm long), and spiny spores. All the species have two peg-like aerophores on the rhizome, 1-2 mm from the petiole base. Phyllopodia are absent. A well-known species in this group is the parsley fern, Elaphoglossum peltatum, which is unusual because of its flabellately divided leaves.
 
 

Peg-like aerophores characteristic of Elaphoglossum sect. Squamipedia           (E. peltatum, photo by R. C. Moran)

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This clade is characterized by inconspicuously scaly or glabrous blades. On the evolutionary tree, the clade consisting of affine - acrostichoides is characterized by short-creeping rhizomes.
 
 

A species of section Elaphoglossum, E. conspersum   From Cerro de la Muerte, Costa Rica, 3200 m. The fertile leaf (left-center) is black beneath because the spore cases are spread across the lower surface--a condition called "acrostichoid sori."                 (photo by R. C. Moran)

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This section contains only one species: Elaphoglossum amygdalifolium. It differs from the rest of the genus by the combination of hydathodes, phyllopodia, and reddish young leaves.

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Click to e-mail: Robbin Moran
                          John Mickel
                          Tim Motley

This page last updated 7 December 2001