Tectaria - Tectariaceae

Tectaria torrisiana Shäffer-Fehre

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Rhizome erect or shortly creeping, woody, to 1 cm in diameter; rhizome scales lanceolate in outline, apex tapering to a point, 5–8 x 0.7–1.7 mm, either mid-brown and uniform or with darker centre and thin paler margin. Fronds monomorphic, tufted, to 120 cm long, somewhat fleshy. Stipe 27–55 cm long, shorter (< 20 cm) in sterile fronds, reddish brown, lowest 4 cm almost black, mostly hairless but with a few scales near base, similar to those of rhizome. Lamina 2-pinnate to 3-pinnatifid, ovate in outline, 32–50 x 24–34 cm, shiny; pinnae 2 free pairs on each side below pinnatifid apex, to 27 x 23 cm; pinnules sharply upturned, apex pointed, basiscopic pinnule larger (to much larger), terminal pinna deeply lobed-pinnate and to 30 x 22 cm; ultimate segments to 2.5 x 2 cm, sickle-shaped and pointed; free veinlets simple or occasionally forked as a ‘T’ with the tip often at a slight angle, thickened as for hydathode; lamina hairless except for glandular hairs in grooves of costa and on costules and margins in sinus. Sori median, mostly near tips of pinnules, on end of free veinlets and on branching points, 1–1.8 mm in diameter; indusium kidney-shaped.

Notes

Derivation

torrisiana: named after Maria Torris, godmother of the author.

Habitat

Moist forest in Uluguru Mts.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Tanzania .

Growth form

Terrestrial.

Literature

  • 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 196.
  • Roux, J.P.; Shaffer-Fehre, M. & Verdcourt, B. (2007) Dryopteridaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 7. (Includes a picture).
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