Adiantum - Adiantaceae

Adiantum reniforme L.

Photo: NR. Crouch
Tanzania

Photo: NR. Crouch
Tanzania

Photo: NR. Crouch
Tanzania

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Adiantum reniforme L. var. asarifolium (Willd.) Cordem.
Adiantum reniforme L. subsp. asarifolium (Willd.) C.Chr.
Adiantum asarifolium Willd.
Adiantum reniforme L. var. hydrocotyloides Cordem.
Adiantum flabellum C.Chr.

Common name

Lotusleaf Maidenhair Fern

Description

Rhizome short; rhizome scales narrowly lanceolate, entire. Fronds monomorphic, tufted, subcoriaceous. Stipe 15–30 cm long. Lamina simple, kidney-shaped to round, 1.5–8(–10) cm long and wide, usually with a deep basal sinus, the lobes more or less overlapping or in some young leaves ± truncate, margins entire or slightly lobed, glabrous except for woolly hairs sometimes present near the apex of stipe or in some variants lamina at first densely woolly all over; venation fan-shaped, the nerves usually forked into two in lower 1/3 of limb. Sori numerous, closely placed or continuous along the margin.

Notes

The simple, kidney-shaped leaf separates this species from others.

Derivation

reniforme: referring to the kidney-shaped lamina.

Habitat

Moist, deeply shaded rock crevices.

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Cape Verde, Comoro and Canary Islands, Madeira, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, also in China.

Distribution in Africa

Dem. Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania .

Growth form

Lithophytic.

Literature

  • 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 77.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 71.
  • Verdcourt, B. (2002) Adiantaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 50 - 52. (Includes a picture).

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