Species

Asplenium holstii Hieron.

Photo: BT. Wursten
Mozambique

Synonyms	Asplenium africanum Desv. var. holstii (Hieron.) Tardieu
Common name
Description	Rhizome erect or shortly ascending, up to 20(-60) mm thick; rhizome scales up to 13 x 2.7 mm, brown, ovate to narrowly triangular in outline, margin sparsely fringed, apex gradually tapering to a point and ending in a hair. Fronds tufted, erect or pendulous. Stipe pale matt grey-brown, up to 90 mm long, at the very base with scales similar to the rhizome, elsewhere with similar but smaller scales than rhizome scales, becoming (sub)glabrous with age. Lamina simple, up to 1 m long and 7 cm wide, elliptic to lanceolate-linear in outline, margins entire to wavy, apex tapering to a point to rounded, hairless. Sori linear, 5-33 mm long, set at 45 degrees to the midrib; indusium entire, membranous, 0.5-1.4 mm wide.
Notes	Simple fronds
Derivation	holstii: named after C.H.E.W. Holst, German horticulturist.
Habitat	Deeply shaded areas near streams in evergreen riverine forest.
Distribution worldwide	See African distribution.
Distribution in Africa	Kenya , Malawi , Mozambique , Tanzania , Zimbabwe .
Growth form	Epiphytic, lithophytic.
Literature	Beentje, H.J. (2008) Aspleniaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 10. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 214. (Includes a picture). Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 331 - 332. 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 87. Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 166. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Page 170. (Includes a picture).