Elaphoglossum - Lomariopsidaceae

Elaphoglossum zambesiacum Schelpe

Photo: JE. Burrows
Zambia

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Rhizome creeping, c. 4 mm in diameter; rhizome scales 5 × 1 mm, pale-brown, concolorous, lanceolate acuminate, margin mostly entire or with occasional hair-like outgrows. Fronds simple, closely spaced, coriaceous. Sterile fronds: stipe up to 11 cm long, pale greenish-grey or pale brown, at first set with linear, pale brown scales up to 5 mm long, later becoming subglabrous. Sterile lamina oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic in outline, apex sharply pointed, base wedge-shaped and prolonged down the axis, up to 10 × 3 cm, margin with a pale, tough border. Fertile fronds: lamina very narrowly oblanceolate, base prolonged down the axis, hairless. Sporangia covering the undersurface of the lamina.

Notes

Derivation

zambesiacum: of the Zambezi region

Habitat

Confined to higher rainfall areas, streamside rocks in shade.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Dem. Republic of Congo, Zambia.

Growth form

Lithophytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Kornas, J. (1979) Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia. Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych. Page 112.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 149.
  • 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 133.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Page 210.
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