Asplenium - Aspleniaceae

Asplenium splendens Kunze ssp. splendens

Photo: P. Ballings
South Africa

Photo: P. Ballings
South Africa

Photo: P. Ballings
South Africa

Photo: P. Ballings
South Africa

Photo: P. Ballings
South Africa

Photo: P. Ballings
South Africa

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Tarachia splendens (Kunze) C.Presl.
Asplenium cuneatum Lam. var. splendens (Kunze) Sim

Common name

Description

Rhizome shortly creeping, 4-7 mm thick; rhizome scales midbrown, subulate-lanceolate, hairtipped, margin entire or with few outgrowths, up to 7 mm long. Fronds spaced 2-6 mm apart, not proliferous. Stipe 9-25 cm long, densely set with lacerate, hairlike scales when young, becoming subglabrous with age, dark brown below, green above. Lamina 8-45 cm × 6-28 cm, 2-pinnate, rarely 3-pinnate on the basiscopic pinnules of the basal pinnae. Pinnules broadly obcuneate to subrhombic, becoming narrower apically, bases unequally cuneate, petiolate, margins irregular, toothed, shallowly incised into irregular lobes, mid to dark green above, shiny, paler below, hairless or with a few, minute, twisted hairs on the undersurface. Rhachis and secondary rhachises green, lightly set with twisted hair-like scales. Sori numerous, linear, 5-14 mm long, set along the veins, indusium entire, linear.

Notes

Derivation

splendens: shining, probably referring to the glossy green fronds of this fern.

Habitat

Evergreen forest, not usually near water.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

South Africa, Swaziland.

Growth form

Epiphytic, lithophytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 252 - 254. As Asplenium splendens Kunze (Includes a picture).
  • Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature. Pages 658 - 659. (Includes a picture).
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Page 365. (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 97.
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