Gymnogramma calomelanos (L.) Kaulf. var. aureoflava Hook.
Ceropteris calomelanos sensu Sim

Rhizome erect to shortly creeping, up to 10 mm in diameter; scales light brown, linear, up to 4 mm long, margins entire. Fronds tufted, arching, firmly herbaceous. Stipe 6-36 cm long, black to chestnut brown, shiny smooth with few scales at the base. Lamina 14-37 × 7-14 cm, ovate to lanceolate in outline, 2- to 3-pinnatifid, long tapering to the apex. Pinnae oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, pinnatifid to varying degree, apices acute, margins shallowly toothed and inrolled in dried material, dark green above and covered with a yellow powder below, glabrous on both surfaces. Rhachis black to chestnut brown, shiny, glabrous. Sori about 3 mm long, situated along the veins in the outer half of the lamina between the costule and margin, often difficult to see because of the yellow powder; exindusiate.

First record for Zimbabwe: PB2089!!!
Could be confused with P. argentea but the latter has more delicate and more divided (3- or 4-pinnatifid, broadly ovate to triangular fronds.

calomelanos: beautifully black, referring to the colour of stipe and rhachis; aureoflava: golden yellow, the undersides of the lamina are covered with yellow powder.

In crack of rocks of artificial cliff caused by old mining activity, in full sun

Native of South and Central America but naturalised in DRC, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Comoro Islands, Mauritius, Australia. Now also found in Zimbabwe.

Dem. Republic of Congo, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Lithophytic, terrestrial.