Microsorum - Polypodiaceae

Microsorum punctatum (L.) Copel.

Photo: BT. Wursten
Zimbabwe

Photo: BT. Wursten
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: BT. Wursten
Mozambique

Photo: BT. Wursten
Mozambique

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Polypodium iridoides Poir.
Phymatodes irioides (Poir) C. Presl
Microsorum irregulare Link.
Pleopeltis sessilis (Kaulf. ex Kunze) T.Moore
Acrostichum punctatum L.
Polypodium crassinerve Schumach.
Polypodium polycarpon Sw.

Common name

Description

Rhizome shortly creeping, thick, c. 8 mm in diameter, embedded in a thick felt of roots; rhizome scales black, peltate, lanceolate in outline, entire, acuminate, up to 4 mm long. Fronds simple, spaced (to 1 cm apart), apparently tufted, rigid, glabrous, coriaceous. Stipe short to absent. Lamina up to 0.6-1.5 m x 7-11 cm, narrowly elliptic-oblong, margins entire to irregularly wavy, apex rounded to tapering to a point, gradually decrescent to a broadly or narrowly winged base, midrib raised on both sides; venation obscure, anastomising with included veinlets. Sori circular, minute, ± 1 mm in diameter, distributed irregularly on the undersurface of the fronds.

Notes

Derivation

punctatum: dotted or marked with spots, referring to the minute sori which are irregularly distributed over the underside of the fertile fronds.

Habitat

Seasonally dry to moist evergreen forest, evergreen thicket and by streams.

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Comoro Isl., Mascarene Isl., Madagascar, also tropical Asia, India, Vietnam, S. China, Taiwan and Malesia to Pacific Islands.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania , Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Epiphytic, lithophytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 199 - 200. (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 550 - 551. (Includes a picture).
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 312 - 313. (Includes a picture).
  • 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 161.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 101. (Includes a picture).
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 156 - 158. (Includes a picture).
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 350 - 351. (Includes a picture).
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Page 209. (Includes a picture).
  • Verdcourt, B. (2001) Polypodiaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 21 - 22. (Includes a picture).
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