Lycopodiella - Lycopodiaceae

Lycopodiella sarcocaulon (A. Braun & Welw. ex Kuhn) Pic.Serm.

Photo: S. Dondeyne
Mozambique

Photo: S. Dondeyne
Mozambique

Photo: S. Dondeyne
Mozambique

Photo: P. Ballings
Mozambique

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Lycopodium carolinianum L. var. grandifolium Spring
Lycopodium sarcocaulon A.Braun & Welw. ex Kuhn
Lycopodiella caroliniana (L.) Pic.Serm. var. grandifolia (Spring) Verdc.

Common name

Description

Stem branched, up to 6 mm in diameter, creeping on the ground for most of its length, rooting along their length. Leaves dimorphic; lateral leaves fleshy, spreading, oblong to sickle shaped, 15 × 3 mm, up to 3 times larger than the dorsal leaves; dorsal leaves appressed, ovate to lanceolate, up to 4 × 3 mm. Strobili solitary, borne at the apex of an erect peduncle; peduncle sparsely set with reduced appressed leaves, 7 - 30 cm long. Sporophylls broadly ovate-acuminate with a deflexed point, up to 5.5 × 2 mm.

Notes

L. sarcocaulon can be distinguished from L. caroliana by having fleshy lateral leaves that are much bigger than the dorsal leaves.

Derivation

Sarcocaulon: fleshy stem, species stem of a fleshy nature

Habitat

Among grasses and sedges in marshy ground.

Distribution worldwide

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Terrestrial.

Literature

  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 19 - 20. (Includes a picture).
  • Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature. Pages 46 - 47. (Includes a picture).
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 132 - 133. (Includes a picture).
  • Kornas, J. (1979) Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia. Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych. Page 27.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 23.
  • Roux, J.P. (2009) Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Strelitzia 23, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Page 18.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 21 - 22.

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