Species

Christella altissima Holttum

Synonyms	Thelypteris altissima (Holttum) P.J.Vorster
Common name
Description	Rhizome widely creeping, ca. 1 cm in diameter. Stipe ca. 0.4 m long, sparsely set with scales 10 x 1.5 mm. Lamina deeply 2-pinnatifid, up to 2 m long, lanceolate in outline, basal pinnae abruptly reducing, with most basal ± 6 pairs vestigial, the larger ones with enlarged, acuminate, crenate basal acroscopic lobes; pinnae apex tapering to a point, base somewhat truncate, up to 28-34 x 2.5-3.5 cm, lobed 2/3 to 3/4 to the costa into falcate rounded lobes; veins 11-15 paired, 1.5-3 pairs anastomosing below the sinus, a futher single side vein joining at the sinus; costae with hairs 0.6 mm above, costules and veins set with hairs of the same lenght. Sori medial, the stalks of the sporangia sometimes bearing unicellular hairs; indusiate.
Notes	Christella altissima look for: very large size, veins anastomosing below sinus plus single side vein joining at sinus, presence of acicular hairs on the stalks of many sporangia.
Derivation	altissima: very tall, reference to the very long frond.
Habitat	On the site of a bog at the Head of Durban Bay; probably extinct due to habitat transformation.
Distribution worldwide	Africa
Distribution in Africa	South Africa .
Growth form	Terrestrial.
Literature	Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 262 - 263. (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 682 - 683. (Includes a picture). Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Page 387. 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 202.