Huperzia - Lycopodiaceae

Huperzia phlegmaria (L.) Rothm.

Photo: BT. Wursten
Mozambique

Photo: BT. Wursten
Mozambique

Photo: BT. Wursten
Mozambique

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Lycopodium phlegmaria L.
Urostachys phlegmaria (L.) Herter

Common name

Description

Stems up to 45 cm, pendulous, dichotomously branched. Foliage leaves narrowly lanceolate in outline, apex tapering to a point, up to (0.9-)3.3 × 0.4 cm, base narrowed or rounded then strongly narrowed at extreme base, coriaceous, loosely overlapping, somewhat spreading at right angles to stem. Fertile region of stem distinct, 3-13(-24) x 0.15-0.2 cm, 1-3 times dichotomously forked. Sporophylls 1.5-2 × 1.5 mm, ovate in outline, only partly covering the sporangia and usually very slightly longer than them. Sporangia c. 1.3 mm wide.

Notes

Derivation

Habitat

Deep shade in evergreen forest, Uapaca guinensis-Schefflera secondary forest, intermediate rain forest, riverine forest.

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Comoro and Mascarene islands, Madagascar, tropical Asia extending to australia and New Zealand.

Distribution in Africa

Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Tanzania , Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Epiphytic.

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 15.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 19. Not recorded for Zimbabwe
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Page 20. Recorded for Malawi only
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 15 - 16.
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Pages 9 - 10.
  • Vercourt, B. (2005) Lycopodiaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 9 - 10.
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