Dicranopteris - Gleicheniaceae

Dicranopteris elegantula Pic.Serm.

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Rhizome creeping, branched, hairy; hairs 2.5-5 mm long. Lamina dichotomously divided with a pair of accessory pinnae present at each fork of the divisions. Accessory pinnae well developed, similar to terminal pinnae, up to 8 x 3 cm. Terminal pinnae oblong-elliptic to oblong-lanceolate in outline, deeply pinnatifid, up to 18-25 x 4.5-7 cm. Pinnule lobes 25-35 × 3-4 mm, long, narrow and herbaceous, margin entire and a little rolled outwards towards the abaxial side, apex rounded, glabrous on both surfaces, borne only on the ultimate branches, the other axes naked, naked axes long and slender. Spores monolete.

Notes

Differs from D. linearis by having well developed accessory pinnae, terminal pinnae that are wide but not too long, ultimate segments that are long and narrow, naked axes that are long and slender.

Derivation

Habitat

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone.

Growth form

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Literature

  • Pichi Sermolli, R.E.G. (1972) Fragmenta Pteridologiae III.Webbia, 27(2) Pages 402 - 404. (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 49.
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