Species

Asplenium pellucidum Lam. ssp. pseudohorridum (Hieron.) Schelpe

Photo: JE. Burrows
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Synonyms	Asplenium protensum Schrad. var. pseudohorridum Hieron. Asplenium pseudohorridum (Hieron.) Hieron.
Common name
Description	Rhizome erect to suberect, up to 10 mm diameter; rhizome scales brown, subulate, apex tapering to a point, subentire, up to 12 mm long. Fronds tufted, arching, thinly coriaceous, not proliferous. Stipe matt-brown, up to 18 cm; stipe and rhachis densely covered with hair-like scales up to 8 mm long. Lamina 22-100 x 9-25 cm, pinnate to deeply 2-pinnatifid, lanceolate in outline, basal pinnae reduced, apical ones decrescent. Pinnae 20-36 pairs, 5-8.5 x 0.8-1.7 cm, opposite or alternate, subglabrous, lanceolate in outline, base unequal, apex tapering to a point, shallowly incised into crenate lobes. Sori linear, 4-6 mm long, lying almost parallel to the costa; indusium linear, membranous, entire, 0.8 mm wide.
Notes	Similar to A. protensum but A. pellucidum is not proliferous. Differs from A. friesiorum by having an erect to suberect rhizome. The rhachis and stipe of A. pellucidum are also densely set with dark scales.
Derivation	pellucidum: through which light passes, transparent; reference unclear. pseudohorridum: rough, bristle; alluding to the scaly stipe and rhachis.
Habitat	Deeply shaded moist forest.
Distribution worldwide	See African distribution.
Distribution in Africa	Mozambique , Tanzania , Zimbabwe .
Growth form	Epiphytic, lithophytic.
Literature	Beentje, H.J. (2008) Aspleniaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 26 - 27. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 230 - 232. (Includes a picture). Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 355 - 356. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 168. 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 93. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Page 179.