Pseudolycopodiella meridionalis (Underw. & F.E.Lloyd) Holub var. mesetarum (B.Øllg.) B.Øllg., Phytotaxa

Øllgaard, Benjamin, Boudrie, Michel & Cremers, Georges, 2020, The Lycopodiaceae of Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, Phytotaxa 433 (2), pp. 101-134 : 131-132

4b. Pseudolycopodiella meridionalis (Underw. & F.E.Lloyd) Holub var. mesetarum (B.Øllg.) B.Øllg., Phytotaxa 57: 20. 2012.— Lycopodiella caroliniana (L.) Pic.Serm. var. mesetarum B.Øllg. , Nord. J. Bot. 23: 39–40. 2004.— Pseudolycopodiella caroliniana (L.) Holub var. mesetarum (B.Øllg.) B.Øllg., Phytotax. 57: 20. 2012. Type:— VENEZUELA. Amazonas: Dept. Atabapo, Cerro Marahuaca, Huha. Cumbre altiplanicie no arbolada, más o menos plana, con pidras expuestas, río abajo, 03°40’N, 65°30’W, 2580 m, 31 January 1982, Steyermark et al. 125967 (holotype AAU). Fig. 17 .

This variety differs from var. meridionalis by the subisophyllous creeping shoots, with the lateral and dorsal leaves nearly equally long, and the lateral leaves only to twice as wide as the dorsal leaves, linear-subulate to narrowly lanceolate. The dorsal leaves 4–5-seriate (not 2–3-seriate), linear to linear-subulate (not lanceolate to linear-lanceolate).

Distribution: — Endemic to the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela (BO) and Guyana.

Habitats: — Terrestrial, all collections cited are from open, wet habitats above 2000 m.

Specimens examined:— GUYANA. Cuyuni-Mazaruni: Mt. Roraima, summit, 26 November 1927, Tate 380 p. p. (NY).

Note:—This variety seems somewhat intermediate between Pseudolycopodiella iuliformis (Underw. & F.E.Lloyd) B.Øllg. and the type variety, because the leaves of the creeping shoots are much less unequal than in the latter species, and not completely isophyllous as in P. iuliformis . Both mentioned taxa occur in the region of the variety. The var. meridionalis seems restricted to much lower altitudes (0–1500 m) in the same region.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Pseudolycopodiella meridionalis var. mesetarum—(Venezuela, Steyermark et al. 125967, AAU).A. Growth habit. B. Closeup of horizontal stem and base of strobiliferous branch.