Pellaea Atropurpurea Link 99 



Stipe and rachis: 



(I. I.) Hirsute with long delicate hairs, appressed, 



persistent, more abundant on the upper portion 

 and extending to the stalks of the pinnae, giving 



the whale a scabrous appearance. 



1 1). 1.) Naked or with very few scattered, spread- 

 ing hairs, surface smooth, polished darker than in 

 (I. J.) 



Fertile Pinnae: 



(I. 1.) Upper, simple, stalked except the topmost 

 pair, narrowly lanceolate or oblong to linear, reaching 

 5 x 45 mm, smooth and pure green above, light 

 green or whitish below with scattered, colorless 

 hairs on the midvein, many halberd shaped or 

 forked. * Apex acute, base truncate or slightly 

 cordate. Lower pinnae pinnate with one to five 

 pairs of ovate to lanceolate pinnules. Stalks of 

 compound pinnae up to 2 cm. long. 



(b. I.) Upper pinnae ovate to elliptical, some- 

 times oblong, rarely larger than 4 x 20 mm., sessile 



except the lower pairs, apex rounded or slightly 



eniarginate; base truncate or cordate, sometimes 

 auricled and clasping. Upper surface bluish, glau- 

 cous green, otherwise smooth. Lower surface 



B&lOOth with veins almost free from hairs at all 

 ages. Lower pinnae completely or incompletely 

 pinnate with ovate pinnules or broad rounded 

 lobes. 



Sterile Pinnae: 



(I. 1.) Upper pinnae simple, ovate-oblong to 

 oblong, up to 12 x 25 mm. Margin strongly 

 crisped with a narrow (.25 mm.) membranaceous 

 border. Apex rounded or acutish, base cordate. 

 All but the top pair are stalked with stalks up to 

 6 mm. in length. Upper surface, smooth, true 



