Triplophyllum - Tectariaceae

Triplophyllum varians (T.Moore) Holttum

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Aspidium sparsiflorum (Hook.) Diels
Polypodium sparsiflorum Hook.
Dictyopteris varians T.Moore
Tectaria varians (T.Moore) C.Chr.

Common name

Description

Rhizome creeping, thick. Fronds monomorphic, spaced, subcoriaceous, gemmiferous. Stipe 70-90 cm long, light brown or streaked, grooved, base darker and set with narrow, dark brown scales, margin entire. Lamina pinnate, 40-50 x 20-30 cm, brown when dry, surface hairless; pinnae 4-5 pair and terminal pinna, lateral pinnae 13-17 x 4-5 cm, a bud present in the armpits, petiolate or sessile, alternate, apex abruptly narrowed to a 2 cm long point, base wedge-shaped, margins entire or irregularly wavy, terminal pinna resembling lateral ones, shortly decurrent, sometimes with a sharp 4-5 cm long lobe at the base; veinlets forming 2 or 3 rows of elongated areols in between the lateral veins, veinlets included. Sori irregularly scattered on the course of a vein, elongated; mostly exindusiate.

Notes

Derivation

Habitat

Rocky ground in rain forest; up to 300 m alt.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan and South Sudan.

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.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 286 - 288. (Includes a picture).
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Pages 173 - 174. (Includes a picture).
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