Triplophyllum - Tectariaceae

Triplophyllum protensum (Afzel. ex Sw.) Holttum

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Aspidium protensum Sw.
Ctenitis protensa (Sw.) Ching
Dryopteris protensa (Sw.) C.Chr.
Aspidium subquinquefidum P.Beauv.
Polypodium pubescens Schumach.

Common name

Description

Rhizome long-creeping, 3–5 mm in diameter; rhizome scales broadly triangular in outline, gland-tipped, overlapping, 1–2 x 1 mm. Fronds monomorphic, spaced 0.5–3.5 cm apart, erect, thin to sub-coriaceous. Stipe 18–55 cm long, brown, base with lanceolate scales 4–5 x 0.4–1 mm, upper part with dense fine hairs 1–2 mm long, becoming hairless with age. Lamina 3–4-pinnatifid, deltoid-pentagonal in outline, with wide basal pinna pair strongly curving upwards, 18–36 x 15–32 cm, dark green above, yellowish green below; pinnae up to ± 12 on each side of the rhachis, apex gradually decrescent, pinnae closely aligned, not overlapping; basal pinna to 26 x 13 cm, with well-developed basiscopic pinnule; second pair shorter and less pinnatifid, central pinnae to 12 x 4 cm, 1-pinnate except for the basal pinnules which are 2-pinnatifid; ultimate segments of central pinnae slightly falcate, 7 mm wide, crenate to entire, apex rounded; rhachis not winged, grooved almost to apex; veins and veinlets forked, not reaching margin; indument on abaxial surface sparse, denser on venation, of ctenitoid hairs 0.4–1.3 mm long, on adaxial surface with only a few trichomes 1–2 mm long near forks of veins. Sori sub-median, near tip of acroscopic lateral veinlet, 1–1.5 mm in diameter; indusium kidney-shaped with lateral notch, 0.8 mm in diameter, from notch lines of square cells fan out, almost every second cell tipped by glandular hair ± 4 cells long.

Notes

Derivation

protensum: extended.

Habitat

Moist forest, especially along streams and waterfalls.

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Madagascar.

Distribution in Africa

Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda.

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 198.
  • Roux, J.P.; Shaffer-Fehre, M. & Verdcourt, B. (2007) Dryopteridaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 8 - 10. (Includes a picture).
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 272 - 273. (Includes a picture).
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Page 159. (Includes a picture).
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