Species

Hymenophyllum hirsutum (L.) Sw.

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Synonyms	Trichomanes hirsutum L. Sphaerocionium hirsutum (L.) C.Presl. Hymenophyllum ciliatum (Sw.) Sw. Trichomanes ciliatum Sw.
Common name
Description	Rhizome creeping, branched, filiform, with dense pale long-armed stellate hairs to 1 mm long. Fronds spaced 1.5–7 cm apart, arching, eventually pendulous. Stipe 1.5–14 cm long, winged in upper part, with reddish hairs, becoming hairless with age. Lamina dark green, deltate to oblong-ovate in outline, 10–24(–40) x 2–8 cm, 2–3-pinnatifid; pinnae in 11–22 pairs, ovate to linear in outline, 1–3 cm long, decurrent, the lower ones shorter; ultimate segments linear, 4–6 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, apex rounded; rhachis and costae winged; rhachis, costa and veins with stalked stellate trichomes; lamina margins with trichomes or trichome remnants; lamina surface glabrous. Sori 1–2 per segment, terminal, on upper part of lamina, 1–1.5 mm in diameter; involucre cleft to base or nearly so, ciliate with simple and branched hairs; receptacle included.
Notes
Derivation	hirsutum: hirsute, covered with long, moderately stiff and not interwoven hairs.
Habitat	Deeply shaded, moist montane forest, bamboo forest.
Distribution worldwide	Africa, Madagascar, Comoro & Mascarene islands and Seychelles.
Distribution in Africa	Cameroon , Central African Republic , Congo , Dem. Republic of Congo , Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon , Ghana , Ivory Coast , Liberia , Mozambique , Tanzania , Zimbabwe .
Growth form	Epiphytic, lithophytic.
Literature	Beentje, H.J. (2008) Hymenophyllaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 5 - 6. Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 100. Mentioned under H. splendidum 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 45. Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 44. As Sphaerocionium hirsutum Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Page 76. (Includes a picture). Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Page 57. (Includes a picture).