Asplenium - Aspleniaceae

Asplenium sebungweense J.E. Burrows

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Rhizome creeping, c.5 mm diameter; rhizome scales dark brown, subentire, with a long hair tip, up to 4 mm long, linear-lanceolate. Fronds spaced apart. Stipe up to 26 cm, as long or longer than lamina, dark brown to black, glabrous at age. Lamina 2-pinnate to 3-pinnatifid, 15-25 cm × 10-14 cm, ovate to triangular in outline, basal pair of pinnae longer than those above. Pinnae ovate to triangular. Pinnules obcuneate to oblanceolate, 4-14 mm broad, apical margin irregularly serrate and incised, dark green glabrous above, below paler and glabrous distally and with scattered, black hair-like scales near base and secondary rhachises. Rhachis black proximally, matt green distally, with scattered dark scales and hairs. Sori numerous, linear, set along the veins, indusium entire.

Notes

Confusion possible with A. aethiopicum complex. A. sebungweense has an almost triangular frond, a longer stipe and a thin and more widely creeping rhizome; sori born on the side margins not on the tips of the ultimate lobes.

Derivation

sebungweense: named after the Sebungwe region in Zimbabwe.

Habitat

Dry, deciduous woodland, in deep ravines; on earth banks in deeply shaded, seasonally moist situations along perennial or seasonal streams.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Lithophytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 248. (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. Pages 96 - 97.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 170.
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