Adiantum - Adiantaceae

Adiantum schweinfurthii Kuhn

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Adiantum chevalieri Christ

Common name

Description

Rhizome short; rhizome scales linear-lanceolate in outline, apex gradually tapering to a sharp point, brown, entire. Fronds monomorphic, tufted, erect with tips arching, narrowly oblong-lanceolate in outline, 15-35 cm long, membraneous. Stipe slender, not winged, 3-7 cm long, dark purple, shiny, glabrous, base with brown scales. Lamina pinnate, 12-20 x 3-4 cm; pinnae narrowly oblong or oblong-lanceolate in outline, dimidiate, apex rounded, upper margin lobed, lower margin entire, 12-22 x 3-10 mm, pale green, hairless; rhachis black, shiny, not winged; stalklets to 0,5 mm long; veins forked. Sori 4-7 per pinna, oblong-kidney shaped, 1.2-1.8 x 0.7 mm.

Notes

A. schweinfurthii is pinnate, has a rhachis that is not hairy and short, unwinged petiolules (< 1mm), this makes it different from other species in Adiantaceae.
Its pinnae are more oblong-lanceolater and have 4-7 sori per pinna; thus differing from A. stolzii (pinnae more rectangular, sori 2-3(-4) per pinna)

Derivation

schweinfurthii named after G.A. Schweinfurth (1836-1925), German botanist, ethnologist, who traveled in Central East Africa, the Congo, the Libyan desert, and from the Nile River to Khartoum.

Habitat

Steep sloping bank in woodland, shade.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Burkina Fasso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Dem. Republic of Congo, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan and South Sudan, Tanzania , Togo.

Growth form

Terrestrial.

Literature

  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 77.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Page 146.
  • Verdcourt, B. (2002) Adiantaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 0.
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