Polystichum montevidense (Spreng.) Rosenst., Hedwigia

Kessler, Michael, Moran, Robbin C., Mickel, John T., Matos, Fernando B. & Smith, Alan R., 2018, Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XXXV. Dryopteridaceae, Phytotaxa 353 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

Polystichum montevidense (Spreng.) Rosenst., Hedwigia 46: 111. 1906.

Range: —Andes from Ecuador to Bolivia ( CH, CO, LP, SC, TA), southeastern Brazil, Uruguay, northern and central Argentina ( Condack et al. 2013).

Ecology: — Common; in humid to semihumid forests, at forest edges, in scrub, and sometimes in pastures; 2100– 4050 m, 1700–2500 m in southern Bolivia .

Notes: —This is the most common member of a taxonomically difficult species group in Bolivia; it is a mediumsized to large species distinguished mostly by characters of the petiolar scales. Buds occur on some specimens, but are inconspicuous. Hybrids, suggested by malformed spores, are probably not infrequent, but are difficult to diagnose morphologically due to the similarity of the species. Some specimens from southern Bolivia have large petiolar scales lighter brown than typical, but they do not approach the bright orange scales of P.rufum .

The taxonomy of this species has recently been clarified by Condack et al. (2013), who found the species (three gatherings in their molecular sampling, one from Bolivia) to be widespread, variable, diploid, and sister to P. albomarginatum + P. solomonii , both occurring in Bolivia. McHenry & Barrington (2014) also included three specimens in their analysis, from Bolivia, Argentina, and Uruguay. Lectotypification of the species was accomplished by Morero et al. (2016), based on a specimen from Tucuman, Argentina.