Collection Data (M. Sundue 3430)
Classification & Common Names
- Class: Polypodiopsida
- Family: Athyriaceae
- Genus: Diplazium Sw.
- Species: Diplazium striatastrum Lellinger
- Var./Subsp.:
- Common name(s):
General Collection Data
- Date: 18 Jan. 2013
- Primary Collector & #: M. Sundue 3430
- Collection Party: M. Sundue along with the OTS tropical ferns and lycophytes course
- Det. History: M. Sundue
- Habitat: Primary Forest
- Habit: Terrestrial
- Specimen Locations: VT
Additional Comments
Rhizome erect, forming small trunk to 0.5 m tall. With trophopods and stilt roots
Collection Location
- Location: La Selva Biological Field Station – – – Heredia – Costa Rica.
- Coordinates: 10.4220° N, 84.0150° W
- Elevation: 100 m
What are the differences between this species and D. striatum? I always get confused by them.
The names are a bit confusing, but there are some good differences, the most evident of which is laminar dissection. Diplazium striatastrum (shown here) is less divided (1-pinnate-pinnatifid) with pinnae that are divided at most half-way to the costa. Diplazium striatum is generally a larger plant with more divided (1-pinnate-pinnatisect). Diplazium striatastrum also tends to have a rather tall (to 1m) sub-arborescent rhizome, whereas D. striatum (which I am much less familiar with, having only seen twice) seems to have subterranean to surficial, but not sub-arborescent, rhizomes. The type of D. striatastrum is from Costa Rica; that of D. striatum is from Martinique. Diplazium striatum is more widespread and I cannot easily distinguish it from other species such as D. lindbergii.