Asplenium - Aspleniaceae

Asplenium sandersonii Hook.

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Mozambique

Photo: P. Ballings
Mozambique

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Asplenium hanningtonii Baker
Asplenium debile Mett. ex Kuhn
Asplenium melleri Mett. ex Kuhn
Asplenium punctatum Mett. ex Kuhn
Asplenium vagans Baker
Asplenium comorense C.Chr.

Common name

Description

Rhizome (sub)erect, c. 3 mm diameter; rhizome scales brown, margin entire, lanceolate in outline, 2-4 mm long, apex gradually tapering to a point. Fronds tufted, arching, uniform, proliferous, fleshy. Stipe up to 4(-9) cm, subglabrous. Lamina pinnate, 5-30 × 1.5-4 cm, linear to lanceolate in outline. Pinnae 12-23 pairs, distally slowly decreasing in size and ending in a naked extension of the rhachis that bears a proliferating bud. Pinnae rhombic, midrib forming the basiscopic margin for some distance, basal margin entire, distal and acroscopic margins with broadly rounded lobes, base unequal, 0.6-2 x 0.3-1 cm, upper surface glabrous, surface below with a few brown scales. Rhachis straw-coloured, with narrow green wings, sparsely set with scales. Sori up to 8 per pinna, oval, covering most of the pinnae, to 3 mm long; indusium oblong, fimbriate, semi-transparent.

Notes

Differs from similar species by the naked extension of the rhachis that bears a proliferating bud, pinnae with very rounded acroscopic margins.

Derivation

sandersonii: named after J. Sanderson (1820-1881), an amateur plant collector in Natal.

Habitat

Shaded areas in wet, evergreen forest and forest margins.

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Madagascar, Comoro Isl.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania , Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Epiphytic.

Literature

  • Beentje, H.J. (2008) Aspleniaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 15 - 16. (Includes a picture).
  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 229 - 230. (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 618 - 619. (Includes a picture).
  • Fisher E. & Killmann D. (2008) Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Pages 76 - 77. (Includes a picture).
  • Fisher, E. & Lobin, W. (2023) Synoptic Revision of Aspleniaceae (Asplenium, Hymenasplenium) of Rwanda.Phytotaxa, 608 (1) Page 41.
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 371 - 372. (Includes a picture).
  • 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 96.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 170.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 183 - 184. (Includes a picture).
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Page 185. (Includes a picture).
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Pages 126 - 128.

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