Species

Huperzia - Lycopodiaceae

Huperzia verticillata (L.f.) Trevis.

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Synonyms	Lycopodium verticillatum L.f. Plananthus verticillatus (L.f.) P. Beauv. Stachygynandrum verticillatum (L.f.) P. Beauv. Urostachys verticillatus (L.f.) Herter
Common name
Description	Rooting stem 4-6 cm long; aerial stems pendulous, repeatedly dichotomously branched, 25-50 x 0.3-0.6 cm (apex 0.2-0.3 cm wide). Foliage leaves needle-like, 5-8 × 0.2-0.5 mm, with distinct midrib, firmly herbaceous, overlapping, mid- to dark green; grading into the almost indistinguishable fertile portion. Sporophylls similar to the sterile leaves, sporangia single, in the axils of the sporophylls mostly along the apical area of the stem, not hidden, 2-2.5 mm wide.
Notes	H. verticillata has an indistinct fertile portion with sporophylls that are similar to the foliage leaves.
Derivation	verticillatum: in whorls, referring to the whorled arrangement of the leaves on the stem.
Habitat	Deep shade in intermediate and montane evergreen forest, Brachystegia woodland influenced by mist.
Distribution worldwide	Africa, Madagascar, Comoro and Mascarene Islands, São Tomé and tropical America.
Distribution in Africa	Cameroon , Dem. Republic of Congo , Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Ethiopia , Kenya , Lesotho , Malawi , Mozambique , Rwanda , South Africa , Swaziland , Tanzania , Zambia , Zimbabwe .
Growth form	Epiphytic, lithophytic.
Literature	Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 12 - 14. (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 30 - 31. (Includes a picture). Fisher E. & Lobin W. (2024) Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda.Willdenowia, 53 Page 154. Hedberg, I; Friis, Ib & Persson, E (2009) Lycopodiaceae to Pinaceae.Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, vol.1 Page 8. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 133 - 134. (Includes a picture). Kornas, J. (1979) Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia. Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych. Page 30. Lawalree, A. (1989) Lycopodiaceae.Flore d' Afrique Centrale, Pages 3 - 4. Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 21. 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 16. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 17 - 18. Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Page 12. Vercourt, B. (2005) Lycopodiaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 4.