Huperzia - Lycopodiaceae

Huperzia verticillata (L.f.) Trevis.

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Lycopodium verticillatum L.f.
Plananthus verticillatus (L.f.) P. Beauv.
Stachygynandrum verticillatum (L.f.) P. Beauv.
Urostachys verticillatus (L.f.) Herter

Common name

Description

Rooting stem 4-6 cm long; aerial stems pendulous, repeatedly dichotomously branched, 25-50 x 0.3-0.6 cm (apex 0.2-0.3 cm wide). Foliage leaves needle-like, 5-8 × 0.2-0.5 mm, with distinct midrib, firmly herbaceous, overlapping, mid- to dark green; grading into the almost indistinguishable fertile portion. Sporophylls similar to the sterile leaves, sporangia single, in the axils of the sporophylls mostly along the apical area of the stem, not hidden, 2-2.5 mm wide.

Notes

H. verticillata has an indistinct fertile portion with sporophylls that are similar to the foliage leaves.

Derivation

verticillatum: in whorls, referring to the whorled arrangement of the leaves on the stem.

Habitat

Deep shade in intermediate and montane evergreen forest, Brachystegia woodland influenced by mist.

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Madagascar, Comoro and Mascarene Islands, São Tomé and tropical America.

Distribution in Africa

Cameroon, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania , Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Epiphytic, lithophytic.

Literature

  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 12 - 14. (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 30 - 31. (Includes a picture).
  • Fisher E. & Lobin W. (2024) Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda.Willdenowia, 53 Page 154.
  • Hedberg, I; Friis, Ib & Persson, E (2009) Lycopodiaceae to Pinaceae.Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, vol.1 Page 8.
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 133 - 134. (Includes a picture).
  • Kornas, J. (1979) Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia. Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych. Page 30.
  • Lawalree, A. (1989) Lycopodiaceae.Flore d' Afrique Centrale, Pages 3 - 4.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 21.
  • 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 16.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 17 - 18.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Page 12.
  • Vercourt, B. (2005) Lycopodiaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 4.
  •