Pellaea hastata sensu Sim
Allosorus calomelanos (Sw.) C. Presl.
Pteris calomelanos Sw.
Notholaena calomelanos (Sw.) Keyserl.
Pteris hastata sensu Thunb.

Kabovora Mumvuriwedombo

Rhizome erect to shortly creeping, c. 6 mm in diameter; rhizome scales linear-lanceolate in outline, apex slowly tapering to a point, margins pale, up to 10 mm long, black. Fronds monomorphic, tufted, erect to arching, 5-50 cm tall, coriaceous. Stipe 1-16(-30) cm long, round, black, very shining, hairless or finely set with orange-brown short hairs on the upper surface, sometimes with a few scales similar to the rhizome scales near the base, old stipe bases present. Lamina mostly 2-pinnate, occasionally 3-pinnate on the lower pinnae, ovate -lanceolate to narrowly triangular in outline, 10-43 × 2.5-25 cm; pinnae 7-12 pairs, opposite to slightly alternate, oblong-ovate in outline, 1.5-6 cm long; pinnules less than 2 cm long, rounded to broadly hastate, with 3-5 acute to rounded points, articulated, petiolate, grey to bluish green above, paler below, hairless; venetion free, hardly visible; rhachis and secondary rhachis shiny black, hairless or finely set with orange-brown short hairs on the upper surface. Sori borne in a continuous ridge along the margins, indusium continuous, entire, membranous.

The rounded to broadly hastate pinnules, with typically 3-5 acute to rounded points, a grey-green colour and thick texture make this species easy to recognize. P. calomelanos var. swynnertoniana has larger fronds and pinnules that are more than 2 cm long; it is restricted to the east and southern parts of Zimbabwe.

kalos: pretty, melanos: dark; an allusion to the glossy black stipe and rhachis of the plant.

On rocky outcrops in woodland, dense bushland and grassland, favouring warm conditions in both dry and wet climates.

Africa, Madagascar, Comoro Isl., Mascarene Isl., nothern India, northeastern Spain.

Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Dem. Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania , Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Lithophytic, terrestrial.