Asplenium triphyllum C.Presl, Reliq. Haenk.

Kessler, Michael & Smith, Alan R., 2018, Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XXIX. Aspleniaceae, Phytotaxa 344 (3), pp. 259-280 : 259-280

Asplenium triphyllum C.Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1(1): 45. 1825.

Range:— Colombia to northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. In Bolivia, in CO and LP.

Ecology:— Fairly common; saxicolous, rarely terrestrial in humid and semihumid high-elevation grasslands; (3100) 4000–5100 m. This species reaches the highest elevations of any fern in Bolivia. Traditionally used in Peru to make a tea to improve the blood ( Tryon 1959).

Notes:— Specimens with atypical pinna dissection may be confused with A. sessilifolium , but that species has rhizome scales 2–5 mm long (vs. <2 mm long), scales usually with narrow brown margins (vs. uniformly blackish), and naked rachises or with a few, scattered, lanceolate or filiform scales (vs. rachises sparsely to moderately provided with filiform scales and glandular hairs). Buds are often borne in axils of pinnae.