Elaphoglossum - Lomariopsidaceae

Elaphoglossum rhodesianum Schelpe

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Rhizome creeping, c.5 mm in diameter; rhizome scales up to 9 × 2 mm long, pale-brown concolorous, lanceolate, margin subentire, apex pointed. Fronds simple, tufted, erect, thinly coriaceous. Stipe up to 56 cm long on fertile frond, up to 32 cm on the sterile frond, 3 mm in diameter, straw coloured above the articulation, dark-brown below, shiny with scattered narrowly ovate brown scales with slightely fringed margins. Sterile lamina narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblonceolate in outline, apex pointed, base decurrent, 43 × 3.5 cm, glabrous on both surfaces, veins c. 1 mm apart, midrib shallowly sulcate below, convex dorsally. Fertile lamina up to 25 × 1.3 cm, very narrowly linear-elliptic, apex gradually tapering to a point, base long tapering, glabrous.

Notes

Derivation

Habitat

Deep shade of evergreen forests, growing on continuously wet peaty soils near brooks and in seepage areas.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Dem. Republic of Congo, Zambia.

Growth form

Terrestrial.

Literature

  • Kornas, J. (1979) Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia. Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych. Page 111.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 149.
  • 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 131.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Page 211. (Includes a picture).
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