Species

Vittaria - Adiantaceae

Vittaria ensiformis Sw.

Photo: NR. Crouch
South Africa

Synonyms	Vittaria tenera sensu Peter, non Fée Vittaria plantaginea Bory Oetosis ensiformis (Sw.) Greene Vittaria elongata Sw. var. ensiformis (Sw.) C.Chr. Haplopteris ensiformis (Sw.) E.H.Crane
Common name
Description	Rhizome shortly creeping; rhizome scales shiny brown, 4-10 mm long, narrowly ovate-lanceolate in outline, apex with hair-like tip, margins entire to sparsely ciliate. Fronds simple, arching out from tree trunk, seldom pendulous; stipe absent with the lamina extending to the rhizome. Lamina linear, 35-40 × 0.45-0.8 cm, base green or pale brown when dry; midrib hardly visible, not raised. Sori submarginal in two continuous lines just inside the lamina margin.
Notes	The broad lamina combined with green frond base, ciliate rhizome scales and outward arching fronds separates Vittaria ensiformis from other species.
Derivation	ensiformis: shaped like a two-edged sword, tapering to a point.
Habitat	Epiphyte on the boles of large trees along rivers in evergreen forest.
Distribution worldwide	Java, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malaya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Distribution in Africa	Tanzania , Zimbabwe .
Growth form	Epiphytic.
Literature	Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 111. (Includes a picture). 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 73. Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Pages 83 - 84. Verdcourt, B. (1999) Vittariaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 2.