Elaphoglossum affine
Description
Rhizomes short- to long-creeping, 1–2 mm diam.; rhizome scales dense to sparse, ovate, orange-tan to tan with varying degrees of dark, lustrous, sclerotic streaking, ca. 3 mm long, deeply cordate, appearing nearly peltate, entire or with occasional small, irregular teeth; fronds 3–30 mm apart, 7–30 X 1.2–2.6 cm; phyllopodia distinct; stipes 1⁄2–2⁄3 the frond length, glabrous or with a few tan, ovate scales; blades narrowly elliptic, coriaceous, apices acute to rounded, bases cuneate; veins obscure, free, simple or once-forked, ca. 1 mm apart, at 60–70° angle to costa; hydathodes absent; blade surfaces with sparse, minute, stellate trichomidia abaxially, trichomidia sparse and larger adaxially; fertile fronds similar to the sterile in blade size and shape but often somewhat longer, intersporangial scales absent.A
A. Mickel, J. T. & Smith, A. R. 2004: The Pteridophytes of Mexico Vol. 88
Discussion
This species and E. tenuifolium, E. mcvaughii, and E. alansmithii form a closely related group, all with darkly streaked rhizome scales; they differ in their blade shape and details of blade scaliness. Elaphoglossum affine also closely resembles E. guatemalense, which has shorter rhizomes, and uniformly dark, lustrous brown rhizome scales (scales orange-tan with dark streaks in E. affine).B
B. Mickel, J. T. & Smith, A. R. 2004: The Pteridophytes of Mexico Vol. 88
Specimen
Chis (Breedlove 24307, DS). DF (Lyonnet 750, CAS). Gro (Lorea 4202, FCME, IEB). Méx (Rzedowski 21862, ENCB). Mich (Hinton 15710, NY). Mor (Chávez 34, UAMIZ). Oax (Camp 2683, NY; Mickel 1154, NY). Ver (Galeotti 6454, BR; Vázquez 1673, XAL).D
D. Mickel, J. T. & Smith, A. R. 2004: The Pteridophytes of Mexico Vol. 88