Notholaena marantea (L.) Desv subsp. marantea
Acrostichum marantea L.

Rhizome creeping; rhizome scales very narrow, almost hairlike, orange-brown. Fronds monomorphic, closely spaced, (2.5-)12-59 cm tall. Stipe 6-20 cm, set with dense scales like on rhizome and short hairs throughout. Lamina partly 2-pinnate, narrowly oblong in outline, 9-26 x (2-)4-7(-11.5) cm; pinnae in 7-14 pairs, oblong to narrowly triangular in outline, 2-3.7 x 1.3-2.5 cm, pinnate at base and deeply pinnatifid above; pinnules in 3-8 pairs, narrowly oblong in outline, 4-15 x 2-7 mm, the basal pinnule sometimes pinnatifid, hairless or with very few hairs on the upper surface, lower surface densely set with pale brown, narrowly lanceolate, very long tapering scales, 2-4 x up to 0.5 mm, the longest covering the rhachis, costae and costules; mid-vein only visible. Sori and sporangia almost completely covered by the scales.

Steep rocky slopes and open stony soil in Juniperus-Olea forest and dry, evergreen bush.

Africa, Central and Southern Europe, Middle East, Nothern India and China.

Algeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Morocco and Western Sahara, Somalia.

Lithophytic.