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Microgramma bismarckii (Rauh) Blanca R. B. & León Bocángel published in Novon 12(4): 482. 2002. Basionym Solanopteris bismarckii Werner Rauh published in Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur 5, 232, 1973.

  Description: Epiphytic; stems to 3 mm thick, bearing globular, swollen, often ant-inhabited tubers to 2.5 cm in diameter, stem scales abundant, often so crowded as to obscure the stem surface, most of them round, 0.2-0.5 mm in diameter, but occasionally short- and broad-

ovate, conspicuously bicolorous, castaneous at point of attachment and with narrow or broad, white or ash-gray margins. Leaves weakly dimorphic; sterile ones 3- 5 cm long, 0.6-1.4 cm broad, fertile ones longer and narrower; lamina lanceolate to oblanceolate, chartaceous to subcoriaceous (somewhat leathery), the margins entire or weakly repand (slightly undulating) sparsely dotted with small, ovate, castaneous scales, these especially along the costa abaxial (on lower surface); veins indistinct.  These leaf dimensions are less than 1/3 the size of those of M. bifrons. Sporangia merge into a continuous long line that at maturity covers the lamina between costa and margins.

  Habitats: Creeping along the branches of forest trees at 1100-2000 m. (3609-6562 ft.) so at much higher and cooler altitudes than M. bifrons.

  Range/Records: Northern Peru; San Martin Region, San Martin Province, on the steeply descending Pomacochas- Rioja Road below Venceremos.  Venceremos means, “We will win” it was the campsite for the road gangs that had the formidable task of constructing this mountain highway.  There is now an Interpretation Centre and Ranger Station there for the Alto Mayo Protected Forests.  Pasco Province, type collection (Rauh) in the Chanchamayo Valley near Oxapampa.  Also collected 10 km from Oxapampa Town that sits at 1,814 m. (5,951 ft.)  Climate is very variable with annual rainfalls ranging between 1250-3000 mm. (49.21-118.1 inches.)  The rainy season here is primarily from December to late March but can occur as early as October and end as late as April.  Winters, particularly the months of June and July are dry, sometimes very dry, but after July, frequent rainfalls followed immediately by sunshine become the norm.  Annual minimum temperatures are about 10-12oC (50-54oF) with overall averages of 10-24oC. (50-75.2oF.) maximums reach around 23-28oC. (73.4-82.4oF.) mornings are often misty with heavy dews and there are occasional frosts.  These statistics probably give the best climate overview for M. bismarckii habitats bearing in mind that most collections are from somewhat lower hence warmer altitudes.  Also collections have been made in Cusco Region, Cusco Province but no details found.

  Ecuador, in Napo Province at 1200 m. (3937 ft.) and Tungurua Province at 1450 m. (4757 ft.)

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