Sticherus gnidioides (Mett.) Nakai (1950: 18)

Gleichenia gnidioides Mettenius (1864: 226) .

Type: — COLOMBIA. Chocó: Acostadero, Triana 659 (holotype BM!) .

Distribution and ecology: —Western Andean slopes and adjacent lowlands in Colombia and Ecuador. Rheophytic along rivers on rocks and sand. Shows rheophytic adaptations such as the narrow angles of the forking branches, the thick petioles, and the robust rhizomes. It is rare and local at 0–600 m, but possibly also higher.

Notes: —A specimen from Panama (Coclé: East side to Atlantic, 200–400 m, Hamilton & Davidse 2608, BM, MO, U) appears to be a hybrid between S gnidioides and S. pteridellus . It resembles S. gnidioides but has ovate bud scales as in S. pteridellus .