Prodromus of a fern flora of Bolivia. XLII. Update I.
Author
Kessler, Michael
Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH- 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.
Author
Smith, Alan R.
University Herbarium, 1001 Valley Life Sciences Bldg. # 2465, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 - 2465.
Author
Øllgaard, Benjamin
Department of Biology - Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Ny Munkegade 116, building 1137, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Author
Matos, Fernando B.
Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental (CRIA), Rua João Carlos do Amaral 500, 13070 - 111, Campinas, SP, Brasil.
Author
Moran, Robbin C.
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York, 10458 - 5126, USA.
text
Phytotaxa
2023
2023-12-20
630
3
183
210
https://phytotaxa.mapress.com/pt/article/download/phytotaxa.630.3.2/51376
journal article
10.11646/phytotaxa.630.3.2
1179-3163
10409920
Cheilanthes
Kessler
et al
. (2017) listed 14 species of
Cheilanthes
for
Bolivia
, including
C. rufopunctata
from central
Peru
and
Bolivia
. Recently,
Ponce
et al
. (2023)
studied
Cheilanthes volcanensis
de la Sota
, an overlooked species from northwest
Argentina
that is closely related to
C. rufopunctata
, admittedly quite variable. The two taxa are sister to each in the phylogeny provided by Ponce
et al.
, and with fewer genetic differences in any other species-pair in their tree.According to them, the two species differ only in what we consider to be minor morphological details, including: non-lignified root parenchyma in
C. volcanensis
(vs. lignified); 3-layered root pericycle (vs. 1- or 2-layered); ovate-triangular, long-attenuate rhizome scales (vs. subulate, short-attenuate); different petiole cross-section; membranaceous leaf texture (vs. chartaceous); and hyaline lamina hairs (vs. reddish). However,
Ponce
et al
. (2023)
only studied a single specimen of
C. rufopunctata
, limiting their understanding of the variability within that species.
Ponce
et al
. (2023)
also mentioned the occurrence of
C. volcanensis
for
Bolivia
, although without providing a specimen citation. Upon inquiry, M. Ponce (pers. comm.) informed us that the record is based on
J
.
Steinbach 3956
(
Bolivia
,
Cochabamba
, Prov. Tortora, Bucona,
2200 m
, quebrada húmeda,
29.03.1920
, NY). We have been unable to study this specimen but have revisited specimens of
C. rufopunctata
at UC. Based on the variation we see within that species (with UC specimens exhibiting a combination of characters), we are unable to confirm consistent differences between the two species. Pending further study, we do not include
C. volcanensis
in the Bolivian flora.