Lycopodiella - Lycopodiaceae

Lycopodiella cernua (L.) Pic.Serm.

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: BT. Wursten
Zimbabwe

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

Photo: BT. Wursten
Zimbabwe

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Lycopodium cernuum L.
Lepidotis cernua (L.) P. Beauv.
Lycopodium secundum K. Muell.

Common name

Description

Main stem creeping on the ground for most of its length, rooting at points of contact with the ground, roots short, up to 10 mm long; secondary stems erect, much-branched, Christmas tree-like, densely leavy. Foliage leaves needle-like, 1.5-5 × 0.2-0.3 mm, entire, spreading and curving forward. Fertile portions borne in sessile, solitary, strobili, 4-15 x 2 mm, at the apex of drooping branches. Sporophylls pale yellowish, 1.5-1.8 × 1.2 mm, ovate in outline, apex tapering, margins not entire.

Notes

Very distinctive drooping cones, should not be confused with any other fern.

Derivation

cernua: drooping, nodding; referring to the hanging branch tips and strobili that make the plant look like a miniature fir tree.

Habitat

Forest margins, Sphagnum bogs, riverine grassland, marshy areas along streams and in open sunny disturbed areas.

Distribution worldwide

Tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania , Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Terrestrial.

Literature

  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 18. (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 42 - 43. (Includes a picture).
  • Fisher E. & Killmann D. (2008) Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Pages 42 - 43. (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 11. (Includes a picture).
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Page 138. (Includes a picture).
  • Kornas, J. (1979) Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia. Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych. Pages 28 - 29.
  • Lawalree, A. (1989) Lycopodiaceae.Flore d' Afrique Centrale, Pages 18 - 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. Pages 17 - 18.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 23.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Page 20.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Page 16.
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Page 10. As Lycopodium cernuum L.
  • Vercourt, B. (2005) Lycopodiaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 14 - 16. (Includes a picture).
  •