Pteris - Pteridaceae

Pteris albersii Hieron. ssp. uaraguessensis Verd.

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Rhizome erect, short; rhizome scales dark brown, linear-lanceolate in outline. Fronds tufted, 35–70 cm tall. Stipe straw-coloured, reddish brown towards the base or entirely purple-brown, 18–50 cm long with few scales at base. Lamina ovate-triangular in outline, 18–25 x 14–25 cm, the lower pair of pinnae 3-fid with terminal pinnule and one pair of lateral pinnules, remainder imparipinnate with (1–)2 pairs of lateral pinnules and terminal pinnule; pinnules 4–14 x 1.5–3 cm, the ultimate lateral segments 4–9-jugate, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 1–3.5 x 0.3–0.7 cm, the terminal lobe 2.5–5.5 x 0.3–0.7 cm; costae and costules straw-coloured, raised and spinulose above, the former deeply channelled; veins free, forked or simple; sterile margins distinctly spinous-toothed. Sori extending for almost entire length of the segments, only the apex sterile and with a single apical spinule or 2–7 spinous teeth on each margin according to whether they are terminal or lateral segments.

subsp. uaraguessensis: Mucro and spinous teeth of ultimate segments much less distinct; rhachis and stipe straw-coloured, the stipe darker at base.

Notes

Derivation

uaraguessensis: collected in Uaraguess, Kenya by Newbould.

Habitat

Podocarpus forest.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Kenya.

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 169.
  • Verdcourt, B. (2002) Pteridaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 19.
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