Menisorus - Thelypteridaceae

Menisorus pauciflorus (Hook.) Alston

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Meniscium pauciflorus Hook.
Dryopteris pauciflora (Hook.) C.Chr.
Dryopteris pauciflora (Hook.) C.Chr. var. pruinosa Reimers
Polypodium prionodes C.H.Wright

Common name

Description

Rhizome short, erect; rhizome scales few, ovate in outline, brown. Fronds up to 15, monomorphic, tufted, 20–85 cm tall, proliferous, young plant from gemma often remaining on plant for some time. Stipe 10–30 cm long with broadly ovate glabrous basal scales. Lamina pinnate, basal pinnae not reduced, apical pinnae simple with gemma at the base (13–)30–50 x (7–)13–25 cm; pinnae narrowly lanceolate in outline, apex tapering to a point, base cuneate, margin serrate or crenate but not deeply lobed, 5–15 x 0.5–1.5 cm, hairless; lateral nerves reaching tips of teeth, tertiary veins in 2-3 pairs, anastomosing. Sori in 1-2 lines ± parallel to the costa; without indusia.

Notes

Derivation

pauciflorus: unclear, from Latin: 'pauci' meaning 'few' and 'florus' meaning 'flowered'.

Habitat

On rocks in and along rivers in riverine forest, also lower montane forest and mist forest.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Angola, Cameroon, Dem. Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan, Tanzania , Uganda.

Growth form

Lithophytic.

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 206.
  • Verdcourt, B (2006) Thelypteridaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 30 - 31. (Includes a picture).
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