Trichomanes elegans
Trichomanes elegans Rich.
Trichomanes elegans is a fern species in the Hymenophyllaceae family. It is known for its iridescent blue leaves, a result of specialized plastids called 'iridoplasts'. The species was first described in 1792 by Rich.
Description
Trichomanes elegans is found in various regions across Central and South America, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, and parts of Brazil. It also occurs in several protected areas in Colombia, such as Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete and Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquídeas. The species has been misapplied to two other species in the past. Its unique leaf coloration is due to the presence of iridoplasts, which are specialized plastids that contribute to the fern's distinctive appearance.
Distribution
BR · Parque Nacional Natutral de Amacayacu | Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete | Parque Nacional Natural Río Puré | Parque Nacional Natural Cahuinarí | Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquídeas | Parque Nacional Natural Sumapaz | Parque Nacional Nat · Barrancabermeja | Girón | Los Santos · Otanche · Amazonas, Antioquia, Boyacá, Caquetá, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Risaralda, Santander, Valle, Vaupés · Departamentos del Caquetá y Guaviare: Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete · Municipios de Tadó y Condoto, Distrito minero del San Juan · Resguardos Indígenas Mondo - Mondocito, municipio de Tadó · Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete (PNNSCh) · Bolivia · Brazil Northeast · Brazil North · Brazil Southeast · Brazil South · Brazil West-Central · Central American Pac · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · French Guiana · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Nicaragua · Panamá · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad-Tobago · Venezuela · Barrancabermeja | Leticia | Villavicencio
Synonyms
Cephalomanes elegansTrichomanes leprieuriiDavalliopsis elegansTrichomanes prieuriiTrichomanes lastreoidesTrichomanes weddelliiTrichomanes elegans var. weddelliiAdiantopsis elegansDavalliopsis prieuriiTrichomanes anceps
