Wednesday, November 3, 2021

[Botany • 2021] Asplenium pahli (Polypodiales, Aspleniaceae) • A New Species from Leyte, Philippines — [Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Notes on Philippine Ferns. IV]


Asplenium pahli Salgado,

in Salgado, 2021. 

 
Abstract
Asplenium pahli, a new species from Leyte, Philippines, is described. Morphological and distribution range differences between A. pahli, A. anisodontum, A. caudatum, A. falcatum, A. gueinzianum, and A. planicaule are discussed. The habitat and climate of Eastern Leyte is described.

Keywords: Philippine pteridophyte taxonomy, Philippine new species, Pteridophytes 


Asplenium pahli Salgado, Wenzel 572, holotype (P).
Note the plantlets near the apex of two fronds. Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, Paris, France. Collection: Vascular plants P00370339.
License CC Attribution 4.0 International. Available at: science.MNHN.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/p/item/p00370339

Asplenium pahli Salgado, sp. nov.  

Diagnosis:—Asplenium pahli and A. anisodontum have a proliferous rachis but differ in the pinna shape and serration. A. pahli differs from A. caudatum, A. falcatum, A. gueinzianum, A. planicaule and A. polyodon in the proliferous rachis, the pinna margins being irregularly serrate, sinuses of different depth and width, fewer sori distant from the costa, not contiguous, and straight or slightly falcate.

Distribution and ecology:— Island of Leyte, Central-Eastern Philippines. A terrestrial species growing on the eastern slopes of the Leyte Cordillera, at 500 m elevation, in lowland tropical evergreen rainforest. Climate warm and humid; rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year (Pagasa 2020). 

 Etymology:— The species epithet honors Brother George Pahl, FSC, Ph.D., an American biologist and university professor who taught, mentored, and inspired thousands of students in the United States and the Philippines during his teaching career spanning more than 50 years.


Arthur Edward Salgado. 2021. Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Notes on Philippine Ferns. IV. Asplenium pahli (Polypodiales, Aspleniineae, Aspleniaceae), A New Species from Leyte, Philippines. Phytotaxa. 524(2); 71-84. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.524.2.1