Megalastrum alticola M.Kessler & A.R.Sm., Amer. Fern J.

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

Megalastrum alticola M.Kessler & A.R.Sm., Amer. Fern J. 96(1): 36, f. 1 A–C. 2006.

Range: — Ecuador to Bolivia (CO).

Ecology: —Locally fairly common; terrestrial in humid forests and ravines; 2200–3000 m.

Notes: —Differs from M. subincisum (Willd.) A.R.Sm. & R.C.Moran by broader costal and costular scales (scales>10 cells wide vs. <10 cells wide), and from M. rupicola by larger size with more finely dissected blades, and larger rhizome and petiolar scales (13–25 × 0.5–1 mm vs. 8–17 × 0.3–0.8 mm). Generally occurs at higher elevations than most other large Bolivian megalastrums except M. aureisquama . Two of the four known collections have malformed sporangia, but whether this is a result of hybridization or of environmental stress at high elevations is unknown.