Nephrolepis - Nephrolepidaceae

Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

Photo: BT. Wursten
Mozambique

Photo: BT. Wursten
Mozambique

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Aspidium biserratum Sw.
Lepidoneuron biserratum (Sw.) Fée
Nephrolepis punctulata (Sw.) C.Presl.
Nephrolepis caudata H.Christ.
Hypopeltis biserrata (Sw.) Bory
Nephrolepis acuta (Schkuhr) C.Presl

Common name

Description

Rhizome short, erect, with long stolons, not producing tubers. Fronds tufted, suberect to arching, up to 4 m long. Stipe up to 75 cm long, light brown, shiny, with narrowly lanceolate, light brown scales up to 2 mm long at the base, glabrous with age. Lamina up to 3.25 × 0.5 m, narrowly elliptic to linear oblong-lanceolate in outline, pinnate, lower pinnae slightly reduced. Pinnae 8-25 x 1.4-2.9 cm, shortly petiolate, narrowly oblong in outline, base oblique and broadly cuneate, unequal, apex tapering to a point, both surfaces thinly set with minute white hairs when young, hairless with age, margins shallowly serrate (more strongly at the apex), the serrations often occuring in pairs, veins free, ending in an inconspicuous hydathode. Rhachis pale brown, thinly set with small white hairs and scattered pale brown scales. Sori round, c. 1.5 mm in diameter, set in a submarginal line along both sides of the pinnae; indusia facing the margin, kidney-shaped, membranous, entire.

Notes

The large size separates N. biserrata from similar Nephrolepis species.

Derivation

biserrata: doubly serrate, referring to the serrations of the pinnae.

Habitat

In swampy ground and permanently moist conditions, occuring in coastal swamp or dune forest and low-altitude evergreen, riverine forest, bushland clearing and thickets.

Distribution worldwide

Pantropical distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Benin, Burkina Fasso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, Tanzania , Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Epiphytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 204. (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 516 - 517. (Includes a picture).
  • Hovenkamp, P.H. & Miyamoto, F. (2005) Conspectus of Nephrolepis in the world.Blumea, 50 Pages 290 - 293. (Includes a picture).
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 321 - 322. (Includes a picture).
  • Kornas, J. (1979) Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia. Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych. Page 116.
  • Lawalree, A. (2000) Nephrolepidaceae.Flore d' Afrique Centrale, Pages 3 - 4.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 111. (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 147.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Page 160.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 110 - 111. (Includes a picture).
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Page 86. (Includes a picture).
  • Verdcourt, B. (2001) Oleandraceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 3 - 4.
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