Anemia saxatilis (J.P.Roux) Christenh.

Rhizome creeping,short, up to 5 mm in diameter, set with roots, persistent stipe bases and scales; rhizome scales chestnut-coloured, 1-4 mm long, linear to narrowly lanceolate in outline, margin entire. Fronds tufted, few, spreading or erect, slightly dimorphic with fertile fronds slightly longer than sterile fronds. Stipe 2.2-6.2 cm long, strawcoloured, densely set with spreading scales. Lamina herbaceous, 6.7-11.7 cm long, elliptic to oblanceolate in outline, 2-pinnatifid, with 8-15 pairs of pinnae. Pinnae opposite to alternate, oblong to ovate in outline, Ultimate segments sparcely set with hairs along the secondary rhachis on the upper surface, undersurface densely set with hairs and spreading, strawcoloured scales; margins lobed but terminating in acute teeth. Rhachis with hairs and scales. Sori marginal, set under a partially reflexed pinnule margin, exindusiate.

Recognisable from other taxa by its large, spreading, pale scales on stipe, rhachis and undersurface of the lamina. It has a short rhizome, short stipe and crowded fronds.

saxatilis: growing amongst rocks

Table Mountain sandstones in Western Cape, growing in fynbos or renosterveld at 1000-1500 m.

Endemic to South Africa where it occurs in the mountain ranges in the Western Cape.

South Africa.

Lithophytic.