Notholaena buchananii Baker
Notholaena bipinnata (Sim) Sim
Cheilanthes inaequalis (Kunze) Mett. var. buchananii (Baker) Schelpe

Rhizome shortly creeping to suberect, c. 5 mm in diameter; rhizome scales linear-lanceolate in outline, margin entire, up to 12 mm, rust-coloured. Fronds monomorphic, tufted, erect, 7-32 cm long, herbaceous to coriaceous, shriveling up during the dry winter months. Stipe 2.5-20 cm long, purple-dark brown to black, with short, fine white hairs and with scales similar to those of the rhizome at the base. Lamina 2-pinnate to 3-pinnatifid on the basal pinnae which are not reduced in size, broadly ovate, pentagonal to almost deltate in outline, up to 12 × 6 cm; pinnae 11-14 pairs, lanceolate in outline, upper surface pilose, lower surface sparsely covered with long, soft white hairs, turning rustcoloured with age, margins subentire; rhachis dark brown. Sori marginal, discrete at first but continuous when mature; indusium continuous or discontinuous, ciliate, membranous.

Could be confused with C. eckloniana which has shiny golden-brown scales along the costae and costules, and basal pinnae that might be slightly reduced. The lower surface of the lamina of C. inaequalis is densely covered with short hairs.

buchananii: named after Rev. J. Buchanan (1821-1903), missionary and fern collector.

Moist sheltered and shaded sites in rocky areas, woodland margin, more commonly found on quartzite.

See African distribution.

Dem. Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania , Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Lithophytic, terrestrial.