Actiniopteris - Pteridaceae

Actiniopteris dimorpha Pic.Serm. ssp. dimorpha

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Rhizome shortly creeping, c. 5 mm in diameter; rhizome scales linear, of two types: concolorous pale brown, wholly membranous ones and discolous ones with a central dark stripe and light membranous margins. Stipe 3-4 times as long as lamina, pale brown to strawcoloured, with few scales at the base, otherwise glabrous. Fronds densely tufted, erect, distinctly dimorphic, differing both in size and stipe length as well as in shape and degree of lamina dissection. Lamina flabellate, dried lamina bent over sharply at an angle of 90° or more with the stipe. Sterile frond 3-15 cm long, repeatedly dichotomously divided into 11-36 (linear segments, segments apices serrate with 3-6 teeth. Fertile frond 5-29 cm long, pseudo-palmate, dividing dichotomously into 7-26 linear segments, segment ending in a point, or a notch and 2 small points. Sori in submarginal lines, partly obscured by reflexed margin; indusium continuous, membranous.

Notes

Can be confused with Actiniopteris radiata. A. radiata is weakly dimorph, fertile and sterile fronds differing in size and stipe length, but not significantly in shape or degree of lamina dissection. A. radiata also has about twice the number of segments on the fertile frond.

Derivation

dimorpha: two forms; refers to the difference in the sizes of the sterile and fertile fronds.

Habitat

On granite outcrops, common on sheetrock, growing on islands of overlaying soil and vegetation, or sometimes at the base of boulders.

Distribution worldwide

Distribution in Africa

Botswana, Burundi, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, Tanzania , Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Lithophytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 180 - 181. (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 308 - 309. (Includes a picture).
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 292 - 293. (Includes a picture).
  • Kornas, J. (1979) Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia. Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych. Pages 45 - 46.
  • Lawalrée, A. (1969) Actiniopteridaceae.Flore du Congo, du Rwanda et du Burundi, Pages 4 - 6.
  • 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 167.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 58.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 136 - 138. (Includes a picture).
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