Species

Asplenium trichomanes L. ssp. quadrivalens D.E. Mey.

Photo: JE. Burrows
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Synonyms	Chamaefilix trichomanes (L.) Farw. Asplenium anceps Sol. ex Lowe Asplenium trichomanes L. var. genuinum Willk. Asplenium germanicum J.Cardoso
Common name
Description	Rhizome erect; scales dark brown, lanceolate, up to 4 mm long, margins minutely serrulate. Fronds tufted, not proliferous. Stipe up to 9 cm, glabrous, dark-brown to almost black, shiny. Lamina 6-23 cm × 1-1.5 cm, pinnate, oblong-linear in outline. Pinnae obovate to oblong-circular, up to 32 pairs, margins entire to subentire, glabrous above, a few minute scales below. Rhachis dark-brown to blackish, glabrous. Sori 3 or 4 pairs per pinna at 30-45° to the costa, linear or elongate; indusium entire.
Notes	Differs from similar species ( A. monanthes and A. lunulatum) by not proliferous fronds, oblong-circular pinnae and 3-4 pairs of sori per pinna.
Derivation	trichomanes: a growth of hair, it was believed that this fern was a hair restorer. quadrivalens: quad- = four; valens = strong, stout, powerful.
Habitat	Rock crevices, in boulder scree on high mountain tops; moist evergreen forest at lower elevations. Terrestrial or lithophyte.
Distribution worldwide	Africa, Macaronesia, Britain, North America
Distribution in Africa	Algeria , Ethiopia , Kenya , Lesotho , Morocco and Western Sahara , Rwanda , Somalia , South Africa , Tanzania , Tunesia , Uganda , Zimbabwe .
Growth form	Epiphytic.
Literature	Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 228 - 229. (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 614 - 615. (Includes a picture). Fisher, E. & Lobin, W. (2023) Synoptic Revision of Aspleniaceae (Asplenium, Hymenasplenium) of Rwanda.Phytotaxa, 608 (1) Page 46. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 341 - 342. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 172. 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 99. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 174 - 175.