Diplazium - Woodsiaceae

Diplazium welwitschii (Hook.) Diels

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Asplenium welwitschii Hook.
Athyrium welwitschii (Hook.) Tardieu
Diplazium mildbraedii Brause
Diplazium silvaticum (Bory) w. var. pinnatifida Bonap.
Athyrium letouzeyi Tardieu

Common name

Description

Rhizome erect; rhizome scales lanceolate in outline, formed of thin-walled cells, margins with short extensions. Fronds monomorphic, tufted, herbaceous. Stipe 20-50 cm long, ribbed-greyish. Lamina pinnate-bipinnatifid, ovate-lanceolate in outline, 50-70 x 30-40 cm; pinnae 18 pairs and terminale one, laterale pinnae linear-lanceolate in outline, apex long tapering, base truncate, margins lobed 1/3 to 1/2 of their width, lobes entire or slightly toothed, rounded, 20-25 x 5 cm; costa and costules grooved above, with a few glandular hairs; veins free, the lower pairs of 2 neighboring lobes united in an excurrent vein. Sori elongated, but not reaching the margin, the first anterior sore of each lobe diplazioid in outline, very thick, gripping against the costa and making a very sharp angle with it, sometimes only ripe.

Notes

Derivation

welwitschii: named after F.M.J. Welwitsch who first collected this fern in Angola.

Habitat

Semi-shaded undergrowth in forest.

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Madagascar.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia.

Growth form

Terrestrial.

Literature

  • 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 219.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 234 - 235. (Includes a picture).
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Pages 146 - 147. (Includes a picture).

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