Bolbitis gemmifera (Hieron.) C. Chr.
Synonyms |
Leptochilus gemmifer Hieron. |
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Common name |
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Description |
Rhizome creeping, 4-7 mm thick; rhizome scales dark brown to black, apex tapering to a point, margin subentire with irregular small teeth, opaque to (sub)clathrate, c. 3-4 mm long, deltate-lanceolate in outline. Fronds spaced apart, dimorphous, 20-95 cm long. Sterile frond: stipe 10-45 cm long, light to medium brown, with few scattered scales, denser towards the base; lamina imparipinnate, gemmiferous below apical pinnule, 20-45 × 10-30 cm, ovate in outline; pinnae (4-)7-10(-12) pairs, 10-18 x 2-4.4 cm, elliptic - lanceolate, base slightly asymmitrical, apex pointed, margins wavy to coarsely crenate, glabrous; veins netted with very few included veinlets recurrent and excurrent. Fertile frond: stipe 20-50cm long, lamina pinnate, 15-35 × 7-15 cm; pinnae 5-8.6 x 0.8-1.2 cm, bud occasionally at base of terminal pinnae. Sporangia covering the lower surface of the pinnae. |
Notes | Bolbitis gemmifera is distinct by its having a bud at the base of the terminal pinna. |
Derivation | gemmifera: the species produces gemmae (little plantlets) near the top of the frond. |
Habitat | Deeply shaded forest floor in moist forest and margins of swamp forest. |
Distribution worldwide | Africa, Madagascar. |
Distribution in Africa |
Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania , Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. |
Growth form |
Terrestrial. |
Literature |
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