Polypodiaceae

Pleopeltis Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.

 

Description of the genus

Rhizome creeping, scales clathrate. Fronds spaced apart, monomorphic or sometimes dimorphic, simple to pinnatifid, entire, membranous to fleshy, articulated to the rhizome, with peltate scales on the underside of the lamina. Veins obscure, anastomosing, forming irregular areoles with included free veinlets. Sori large, round, in a single row on each side of the midrib, when young protected by peltate, flattened paraphyses.

 

Derivation of name:  pleón: much, more, pelta: small shield; an illusion to the many peltate scales on the lamina

Worldwide: c. 50 species, mainly neotropical distribution.

 

 

We have 3 taxa in the database for Pleopeltis.

  • Pleopeltis × simianum (Schelpe & N.C. Anthony) N.R.Crouch & Klopper ssp. simiana
  • Pleopeltis macrocarpa (Bory ex Willd.) Kaulf.
  • Pleopeltis polypodioides (L.) E.G.Andrews & Windham ssp. ecklonii (Kunze) J.P.Roux
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    Literature

  • Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature.
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13: 1-222.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0: 1-254.

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