Melpomene brevipes

Melpomene brevipes is an extremely rare and possibly extinct species of fern in the family Polypodiaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is estimated that there are less than 5 ferns, if they still exist.

Melpomene brevipes
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Suborder:	Polypodiineae
Family:	Polypodiaceae
Genus:	Melpomene
Species:	M. brevipes
Binomial name
Melpomene brevipes (C.V.Morton) A.R.Sm. & R.C.Moran