Hymenophyllum - Hymenophyllaceae

Hymenophyllum mossambicense (Schelpe) Schippers

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Hymenophyllum polyanthos (Sw.) Sw. var. mossambicense Schelpe

Common name

Description

Rhizome wiry, without ventrally attached hairs. Fronds spaced apart, linear ovate or narrowly ovate. Stipe up to 2.5 cm long, wiry, narrowly winged at least in the upper half. Lamina up to 45 × 4.5 cm; pinnae pinnatifid to 2-pinnatifid into up to 180 linear entire rounded lobes, ultimate lobes set widely apart. Rhachis narrowly winged. Sori on acroscopic basal segments of pinnae, broadly obconic, indusial valves entire.

Notes

Can be separated from other species by having hairless fronds and entire lobe margins. Can be distinguished from H. capense by having pinnae that are composed of more than 15 lobes. Can be separated from H. kuhnii by having a rhizome that does not have ventrally attached hairs and ultimate lobes that are set widely apart.

Derivation

mossambicense: of Mozambique.

Habitat

Deeply shaded boulders along streams in moist montane forest.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Lithophytic.

Literature

  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 96. Placed in synonymy with H. capense
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 196 - 197.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 43.
  • 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 46.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 79 - 80. (Includes a picture).
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