Asplenium - Aspleniaceae

Asplenium warneckei Hieron.

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Asplenium warneckei Hieron. var. prolifera Hieron.

Common name

Description

Rhizome short-creeping or short-ascending, to 5 mm thick; rhizome scales narrowly triangular in outline, apex gradually tapering into hair-tip, to 3.5 x 0.4–0.5 mm, black with very thin brown margin. Fronds monomorphic, almost tufted to shortly spaced, 30–80 cm long, not proliferous (rarely proliferous near apex). Stipe 10–35 cm long, grey or black, green on upper surface near apex, at base with scales like rhizome scales, otherwise with brown sparse scales to 2.5 mm. Lamina pinnate, oblong in outline, 20–45 x 8–18 cm, the lower pinnae rarely sub-3-lobed or lobed at base, the terminal pinna often 3-lobed and tapering to a point; pinnae in 5–9(-15) pairs, trapezo-rhomboid in outline, apex tapering, base unequal, acroscopic side subtruncate-cuneate, basiscopic side cuneate, margin irregularly toothed, to 10 x 4.8 cm, (sub)opposite, papery, glaucous green, shortly stalked, glabrous or nearly so; rhachis black with thin green lines connecting pinna bases, with dense scales when young, later with scattered subulate scales. Sori 9–18 per pinna, on the veins at a very slight angle to costa, 0.5–3 cm long, not reaching margin; indusium membranous, entire, 0.7–0.8 mm wide.

Notes

Derivation

warneckei: type specimen collected by Otto Warnecke, German plant collector around the early 20th century.

Habitat

Moist forest near water.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Sudan and South Sudan, Tanzania , Uganda.

Growth form

Epiphytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Beentje, H.J. (2008) Aspleniaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 26. (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 101.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 204 - 206. (Includes a picture).
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