Asplenium - Aspleniaceae

Asplenium adamsii Alston

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Rhizome shortly creeping or erect, ± 5 mm diameter; rhizome scales dense, shiny, clathrate, black, 2–2.5 x 0.8 mm long, margin paler, apex ending in a hair. Fronds tufted, oblong-elliptic in outline, 20–36 cm long, sometimes proliferous. Stipe green to blackish, 6–14 cm long, with some scales similar to those of rhizome and a few capitate glands. Lamina oblong in outline, 10–22 x 2.5–6 cm, 1-pinnate, basal pinnae hardly reduced, apex gradually decrescent. Pinnae in 9–19 pairs, sub-coriaceous, to 4 x 1.3 cm, base unequally wedge shaped to tapering, the acroscopic margin parallel with the rachis, the basiscopic margin slightly dimidiate and then cuneate, sometimes slightly 3-lobed, upper margin double serrate, apex rounded to gradually tapering to a point. Rhachis with scattered scales similar to those of rhizome, and with narrow hairs/scales, some of which are small stalked glands. Sori 6–17 per pinna, at slight angle to costa, linear in outline, 2.5–6 mm long; indusium membranous, entire, to 0.7 mm wide.

Notes

Derivation

adamsii: type specimen from Mt. Cameroon, collected by C.D. Adams.

Habitat

Rocky places near waterfall in moorland and upper heath zone, crevices in lava wall.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania .

Growth form

Lithophytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Beentje, H.J. (2008) Aspleniaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 18 - 20. (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 76.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Page 210. (Includes a picture).
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