Sticherus, Presl, 1836

Gonzales, Jasivia & Kessler, Michael, 2011, A synopsis of the Neotropical species of Sticherus (Gleicheniaceae), with descriptions of nine new species, Phytotaxa 31, pp. 1-54 : 42-43

Sticherus × pseudobifidus (Jermy & T.G.Walker) J.Gonzales, comb. nov.

Gleichenia ×pseudobifida Jermy & Walker (1985: 2).

Type:— TRINIDAD. Arima-Blanchisseouse Road , ca. 10°58’ N, 61°10’ W, 450 m, Walker, T . 6414 (holotype BM) .

Distribution and ecology:— Best known in Trinidad, where it is fairly common along roadsides in humid forests on the northern mountain range at 200–450 m, but also known from scattered specimens from Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominica, Grenada, Colombia, northern and southeastern Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, and Peru. It is likely to be more common and widespread than currently known.

Notes:— This triploid hybrid between S. interjectus and S. ferrugineus was described by Jermy & Walker (1985) on the basis of cytotaxonomic studies of the ferns of Trinidad. It is similar in size to S. interjectus but has a much denser indument abaxially on the segments, thus approaching S. ferrugineus . On the other hand, S. × pseudobifidus differs from S. ferrugineus in having irregularly darkened parts on the bud and branch scales, whereas S. ferrugineus has translucent or only basally darkened scales. Sticherus × pseudobifidus has conspicuously irregular segment lengths, a character shared by S. × subremotus. Also, both hybrid taxa have strikingly unequally developed 2 nd branches, i.e., the opposite pairs of branches have different lengths.