Nephrolepis - Nephrolepidaceae

Nephrolepis acutifolia (Desv.) H. Christ

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

Photo: BT. Wursten
Dem. Republic of Congo

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Lindsaea acutifolia Desv.
Lindsaea lanuginosa (J. Sm.) Hook.
Isoloma lanuginosa J. Sm.

Common name

Description

Rhizome erect with long creeping stolons. Fronds tufted, suberect, firmly herbaceous. Stipe pale-brown, 15-18(-30) cm, matt with minute lanceolate lacerate pale-brown scales when young becoming glabrous with age. Lamina up to 200 x 15 cm, pinnate, very narrowly elliptic in outline, acute, the lower pinnae gradually reduced, tapering over 50 cm or more; pinnae up to 65 pairs, shortly petiolate, the middle pinnae very narrowly oblong-attenuate, prominently auricled on the acroscopic side of the base, entire, both surfaces with sparse minute stellate hairs, submarginal hydathodes prominent on the ventral surface; the lower reduced pinnae oblong-obtuse, truncate at the base; rhachis pale-brown, matt, densely set with lanceolate lacerate ciliate minute scales becoming subglabrous with age. Sori submarginal, up to 1 mm broad at maturity, facing outwards, linear, often apparently forming a continuous submarginal soral line; indusium very narrowly linear, membranous, entire.

Notes

Derivation

Habitat

Coastal vegetation on mangroves, oil palms, coconut trees, and on cliff faces.

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Madagascar, Mascarenes, Rodrigues Isl., also Asia, Australia and Pacific.

Distribution in Africa

Cameroon, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Mozambique.

Growth form

Epiphytic.

Literature

  • Hovenkamp, P.H. & Miyamoto, F. (2005) Conspectus of Nephrolepis in the world.Blumea, 50 Pages 289 - 290. (Includes a picture).
  • Lawalree, A. (2000) Nephrolepidaceae.Flore d' Afrique Centrale, Pages 2 - 3.
  • 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 147.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 111.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 160 - 162. (Includes a picture).
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 111 - 112. (Includes a picture).
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Pages 87 - 88.
  • Verdcourt, B. (2001) Oleandraceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 8 - 9. (Includes a picture).
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