Triplophyllum - Tectariaceae

Triplophyllum fraternum (Mett.) Holttum var. fraternum

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Aspidium fraternum Mett.
Ctenitis fraterna (Mett.) Tardieu

Common name

Description

Rhizome long-creeping, ± 4(–5) mm in diameter; rhizome scales dark brown, the smaller tightly appressed and ± 3 mm long, the longer narrowly lanceolate and curved and twisted, 7–8 mm long, tipped by a glandular hair. Fronds spaced, 1.5–2 cm apart, thin to subcoriaceous. Stipe ± 20–(40) cm long, 2.5(–4) mm diameter at base, decreasing to 1.5–2.5 mm diameter near apex, with dense long scales at base, rest of stipe with dense glandular hairs less than 0.5 mm long. Lamina 3-pinnate, narrowly deltoid in outline, 27–33 x 20–28 cm, dark green above, green to pale olive below; pinnae ± 7 and a gradually decreasing pinnatifid apex, the basal pair longest, to 16 cm, and with the first few basiscopic pinnules up to 8-pinnate and to 7 cm long, other pinnules pinnatifid (first acroscopic) but gradually decreasing in size and dissection to slightly crenate; next two pairs of pinnae slightly stalked, next four pairs adnate, grading into ± five adnate pinnules; margins crenate near base, entire near apex; pale sinus tissue ± 0.2 mm deep; rhachis above grooved, lower surface with hairs as on stipe; pinna-costae above grooved and green to strawcoloured, densely short-hairy; veins and veinlets almost invisible, not reaching margin. Sori median on acroscopic veinlet, 1.2 mm in diameter; indusium honey-brown, 1.2 mm in diameter, of thick-walled square cells, fringed moderately with thick, 2–3-celled glands.

Notes

Derivation

Habitat

Moist forest.

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Madagascar, Principe.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Cameroon, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, 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 197.
  • Roux, J.P.; Shaffer-Fehre, M. & Verdcourt, B. (2007) Dryopteridaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 11. (Includes a picture).
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