Asplenium - Aspleniaceae

Asplenium anisophyllum Kunze

Photo: BT. Wursten
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Asplenium geppii Carruth.
Asplenium anisophyllum Kunze var. microphyllum Kuhn
Asplenium anisophyllum Kunze var. minutidentatum Bonap.
Asplenium chlaenopteron Fée
Asplenium subauriculatum Hieron.

Common name

Description

Rhizome erect, to 2 cm in diameter; rhizome scales pale brown, lanceolate in outline, 6-12 x 1.5-3.5 mm, apex pointed, margin divided into a fringe of slender lobes. Fronds tufted, pinnate, not proliferous. Stipe up to 48 cm long, matt brown, hairless with few scales at base similar to rhizome. Lamina 20-88 × 8-32 cm, ovate-elliptic in outline, 7-20 pairs of pinnae, terminal pinna at the apex of the frond resembling the middle pinnae. Pinnae 5-16 x 1.5-3 cm, narrowly lanceolate in outline, apex pointed or tapering to a point, asymmetric at the base, glabrous above with a few scales on costae and veins below, margins toothed with a vein ending in each crenation.  Sori linear, 2.5-6 mm long, set along the veins at (45°?) 60° to the costa, extending from near the costa to halfway to the margin; indusium to 1.2 mm wide, membranous, entire, opening towards the costa.

Notes

Differs from similar species by not proliferous fronds that have many pinnae, toothed margins and a dull green colour.

Derivation

Aniso-: unequal; -phyllum:  leaf (pinnae): the pinnae basis of this species is assymmetric.

Habitat

Shaded areas in moist, evergreen forest.

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Madagascar.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Burundi, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania , Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Epiphytic, lithophytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Beentje, H.J. (2008) Aspleniaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 36 - 38. (Includes a picture).
  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 214 - 216. (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 588 - 589. (Includes a picture).
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 337 - 338. (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 79.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 162. (Includes a picture).
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 170 - 172.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 189 - 190. (Includes a picture).
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Page 129. (Includes a picture).
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