Two new Mesoamerican species and a new combination in Huperzia (Lycopodiaceae)

Two new species of Lycopodiaceae, Huperzia mesoamericana and H. talamancana, are described as a result of revision of material for the pteridophyte volume of Flora Mesoamericana. The relationship of H. talamancana to H. crassa is discussed. A new combination, Huperzia curvifolia var. parvifolia, is proposed. Huperzia mesoamericana B. 0llgaard, sp. nov. TYPE: Panama. Chiriqui: Cerro Hornito, epiphyte, in cloud forest, 6,200 ft., 8 May 1978, Hammel 3061 (holotype, MO). Figure 1. Species Huperziae taxifoliae (Swartz) Trevisan verosimiliter affinis, a qua differt foliis surculorum basalium 12-15 x 4-5 mm, ellipticis usque ad late lanceolatis, obtusis usque ad late acutis, et foliis surculorum dense sporangiferorum 6-8 x 2.5-3 mm, late lanceolatis, planis vel fere planis. Pendent, up to 25 cm long; shoots slightly and gradually tapering from ca. 20-30 mm diam. including leaves at the base to 10-15 mm in distal divisions; stems (excluding leaves) 2-3 mm thick at the base; leaves gradually modified, borne in irregular, alternating whorls of 3, covering the stem; leaves of basal divisions spreading to perpendicular, elliptic to broadly lanceolate, obtuse to broadly acute, 12-15 x 4-5 mm, almost flat, firmly herbaceous to subcoriaceous, somewhat shining, with slightly revolute, entire margins; leaves of middle and distal divisions gradually smaller, more acute, more arcuately ascending, flat, with flat or slightly revolute margins; leaves of fully sporangiate divisions 6-8 x 2.5-3 mm; sporangia 1.5-2 mm wide. Huperzia mesoamericana grows as an epiphyte in cloud forests, from 1,300 to 2,050 m, and is endemic to Costa Rica and Panama. It is a very distinct species of uncertain taxonomic affinity. Because it is a pendent epiphyte with gradually heterophyllous shoots and rather wide leaves of firm texture, this species is referred tentatively to the Huperzia taxifolia group of 0llgaard (1987, 1989). It differs from H. taxifolia by the shorter growth and more compact aspect, by the elliptic to widely lanceolate leaves, 12-15 x 4-5 mm, with obtuse to broadly acute apices, in the basal divisions of the plant, and by the leaves of the densely sporangiate distal divisions 6-8 x 2.5-3 mm, widely lanceolate and flat, with flat or slightly revolute margins. In contrast, H. taxifolia has linear-lanceolate to lanceolate leaves, 14-23 x 2-3 mm, in the basal divisions, and the leaves of the densely sporangiate distal divisions 3-8 x 1-1.5(-2) mm, lanceolate or narrower, usually with a widened and somewhat clasping base, and a long, narrow, involute apex. Paratypes. COSTA RICA. CARTAGO: San Mateo et le chemin de Guacimo au bord de la mer du Pacifique, Brenes, A. M. s.n. (NY). ALAJUELA-PUNTARENAS-GUANACASTE: Cordillera de Tilaran, Monteverde, 1,300-1,400 m, Aug. 1978, Dryer 1618 (F). PUNTARENAS: Monteverde, Veracruz river valley S of Reserve, Pacific slope wet forest, 10?15'N, 84?46'W, 1,300-1,500 m, 22 Aug. 1986, Haber ex Bello & Clagget 5367 (MO). PANAMA. CHIRIQUI: Cerro Colorado, 1,600 m, 9 Aug. 1984, Schmalzel 1997 (MO); Cerro Colorado, 11.2 km along ridge road from main road to Escopeta, 1,700 m, 16 Aug. 1977, Folsom 4873 (MO). Huperzia talamancana B. 0llgaard, sp. nov. TYPE: Costa Rica. San Jose: Cordillera de Talamanca, Cerro de la Muerte, Pan American Highway at km 91, Ericaceae-Chusquea scrub, 3,000-3,300 m, 25 Aug. 1983, Hickey 898 (holotype, AAU). Figure 2. Species Huperziae crassae (Humboldt & Bonpland ex Willdenow) Rothmaler affinis, a qua differt surculis basalibus homoblasticis, foliis (6-)8-11 mm longis, (1.5-)23 mm latis, ascendentibus usque ad laxe imbricatis, abaxialiter epidermide laevi et saepe nitida, vel interdum cellulis paucis protrusis pustuliformibus, non pruinosis. Erect from an ascending base, forming large clumps, sometimes up to 60 cm tall; shoots homoblastic, homophyllous, equally thick throughout or slightly tapering, 7-15(-25) mm diam. including leaves; stem (excluding leaves) 3-5 mm thick; leaves borne in crowded, irregular, alternating whorls of (4-)5-7, spreading to arcuately ascending or loosely imbricate, lanceolate, (6-)8-11 x 2-3 mm (leaves of distal divisions sometimes 1.5-2 mm wide), with an inconspicuous to prominent, often prominently decurrent basal swelling (air cavity), abaxially flat NOVON 3: 67-72. 1993. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.28 on Wed, 31 Aug 2016 04:39:04 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms