Elaphoglossum luzonicum
Content
Distribution
Asia-Temperate: Taiwan (Taiwan present), Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines present), E. New Guinea present, Luzon present, Mindanao present, Negros present, Panay present
Taiwan; in Malesia: Philippines (Luzon, Negros, Panay, Mindanao), E. New Guinea.
Notes
The type of E. luzonicum cited with the original description was Elmer 8190; but Copeland wrote "Type" on the specimen of no 9036 in his own herbarium (MICH) without explaining the discrepancy. I have not seen any specimen bearing the number Elmer 8190.
The treatment of this species (and, with it, that of E. amblyphyllum) has been very confused, both taxonomically and nomenclaturally. In his enumeration of Cuming's Philippine ferns, John Smith cited Cuming 144 and 193 under the name E. obtu- sifolium, based on Acrostichum obtusifolium Willd. citing A. decurrens Bl. as synonym. But as the generic name Elaphoglossum had not then been validly published, the binomial E. obtusifolium J. Sm. was illegitimate (see p. 314). Further, the type of Acrostichum obtusifolium Willd. is a Polypodium-ally; and the specimen described by Blume as A. decurrens does correspond with Desvaux's type of that species; both epithets will also be found confusedly in the synonymy of E. amblyphyllum.
Fee described his specimen of Cuming 144 as Acrostichum decurrens var. ornatum. He cited Cuming 193 as type of A. cumingii, but, as nöted by Copeland, his description does not agree with specimens of that collection in other herbaria, and his name is therefore here regarded as doubtful (see p. 314). Hooker included A. cumingii Fee as one of many synonyms of A. conforme Sw. () citing Cuming 193; but Baker, in Syn. Fil., recognized A. cumingii as a distinct species, basing his description on the specimen of Cuming 193 in Hooker's herbarium.
In 1960 Copeland doubted whether his E. elmeri and E. luzonicum were distinct species. I have examined many specimens of the type collection of E. luzonicum and of Cuming 144 and 193. I have come to the conclusion that the type of E. luzonicum and Cuming 193 are conspecific. Cuming 144 consists entirely of sterile plants, änd I regard these as ± immature stages of the same species as 193; some other collections show intermediate conditions. As in some other species of this genus, young plants have fronds with more broadly rounded apices and more decurrent bases than fronds of mature plants. Fronds of young plants also have a more persistent fringe of scales which are larger than on mature plants; old fronds of some mature plants lack such a fringe, but the scars of attachment of the scales can be seen.
The treatment of this species (and, with it, that of E. amblyphyllum) has been very confused, both taxonomically and nomenclaturally. In his enumeration of Cuming's Philippine ferns, John Smith cited Cuming 144 and 193 under the name E. obtu- sifolium, based on Acrostichum obtusifolium Willd. citing A. decurrens Bl. as synonym. But as the generic name Elaphoglossum had not then been validly published, the binomial E. obtusifolium J. Sm. was illegitimate (see p. 314). Further, the type of Acrostichum obtusifolium Willd. is a Polypodium-ally; and the specimen described by Blume as A. decurrens does correspond with Desvaux's type of that species; both epithets will also be found confusedly in the synonymy of E. amblyphyllum.
Fee described his specimen of Cuming 144 as Acrostichum decurrens var. ornatum. He cited Cuming 193 as type of A. cumingii, but, as nöted by Copeland, his description does not agree with specimens of that collection in other herbaria, and his name is therefore here regarded as doubtful (see p. 314). Hooker included A. cumingii Fee as one of many synonyms of A. conforme Sw. () citing Cuming 193; but Baker, in Syn. Fil., recognized A. cumingii as a distinct species, basing his description on the specimen of Cuming 193 in Hooker's herbarium.
In 1960 Copeland doubted whether his E. elmeri and E. luzonicum were distinct species. I have examined many specimens of the type collection of E. luzonicum and of Cuming 144 and 193. I have come to the conclusion that the type of E. luzonicum and Cuming 193 are conspecific. Cuming 144 consists entirely of sterile plants, änd I regard these as ± immature stages of the same species as 193; some other collections show intermediate conditions. As in some other species of this genus, young plants have fronds with more broadly rounded apices and more decurrent bases than fronds of mature plants. Fronds of young plants also have a more persistent fringe of scales which are larger than on mature plants; old fronds of some mature plants lack such a fringe, but the scars of attachment of the scales can be seen.