Species

Asplenium normale D. Don

Photo: P. Ballings
Mozambique

Synonyms	Asplenium normale D.Don var. grandidentatum Bonap. Asplenium rectangulare Bonap. Asplenium opacum Kunze Asplenium multijugum Wall. ex Mett.
Common name
Description	Rhizome ± 5 mm diameter, erect; rhizome scales dark brown, up to 2.5 mm long, lanceolate, apex gradually tapering to a point, with a narrow ferrugineous margin. Fronds tufted, erect or arching, sometimes proliferous near the apex, firmly membranous. Stipe glossy dark brown, 2–16 cm long, without grooves, glabrous. Lamina linear in outline, up to 50 x 3.3 cm, 1-pinnate, hardly decrescent below. Pinnae 18–49 pairs, up to 1.7 x 0.8 cm, with a short petiole, mostly oblong in outline, the midrib slightly forms the basiscopic margin, apex rounded, shallowly auriculate, acroscopically becoming increasingly deflexed and unequally triangular towards the base, shallowly crenate on the acroscopic and outer margins, glabrous on both surfaces. Rhachis glossy dark brown, grooved ventrally. Sori up to 3 mm long, 2–7 per pinna, oblong; indusium linear, membranous, entire.
Notes
Derivation
Habitat	Deeply shaded, moist evergreen forests, occasionally up into the heath zone.
Distribution worldwide	Africa, Asia.
Distribution in Africa	Kenya , Malawi , Mozambique , Rwanda , Tanzania , Uganda .
Growth form	Terrestrial.
Literature	Beentje, H.J. (2008) Aspleniaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 17. (Includes a picture). Fisher E. & Killmann D. (2008) Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Pages 72 - 73. (Includes a picture). Fisher, E. & Lobin, W. (2023) Synoptic Revision of Aspleniaceae (Asplenium, Hymenasplenium) of Rwanda.Phytotaxa, 608 (1) Page 34. Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 168. 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 92. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Page 175.